Waxy flexibility

Waxy flexibility is a psychomotor symptom of catatonia as associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other mental disorders[1] which leads to a decreased response to stimuli and a tendency to remain in an immobile posture.[2] Attempts to reposition the patient are met by "slight, even resistance", and after being repositioned, the patient will typically remain in the new position.[3] Waxy flexibility rarely occurs in cases of delirium.[4] The presence of waxy flexibility along with at least two other catatonic symptoms such as stupor or negativism are enough to warrant a diagnosis of catatonia.[5]

Waxy flexibility
SpecialtyPsychiatry

If one were to move the arm of someone with waxy flexibility, the patient would keep that arm where it had been positioned until moved again, as if positioning malleable wax. Further alteration of an individual's posture is similar to bending a candle.[6] Although waxy flexibility has historically been linked to schizophrenia, there are also other disorders which it may be associated with, such as mood disorders with catatonic behaviour.[7]

Electroconvulsive therapy is often used as a treatment for catatonia.[8] A study has found that catatonic patients with waxy flexibility responded faster to electroconvulsive therapy, compared to patients with other symptoms of catatonia.[9]

See also

References
  1. Ungvari GS, Goggins W, Leung SK, Lee E, Gerevich J (February 2009). "Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia') III. Latent class analysis of the catatonic syndrome". Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry. 33 (1): 81–5. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.10.010. PMID 18992297.
  2. Definition – Online Medical Dictionary
  3. Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. Mark. (2015). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, p. 485
  4. Regal, P. (2017). Malignant Catatonia Versus Delirium. American Journal of Medicine, 130(1), e33. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.033
  5. Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. Mark. (2015). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, p. 485
  6. Caroff, Stanley N.; Mann, Stephan C. (2007). Catatonia: From Psychopathology to Neurobiology. American Psychiatric Pub. p. 51. ISBN 9781585627127.
  7. American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV TR) 4th edition. USA: American Psychiatric Association
  8. Raveendranathan, D., Narayanaswamy, J., & Reddi, S. (2012). Response rate of catatonia to electroconvulsive therapy and its clinical correlates. European Archives Of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience, 262(5), 425.
  9. Raveendranathan, D., Narayanaswamy, J., & Reddi, S. (2012). Response rate of catatonia to electroconvulsive therapy and its clinical correlates. European Archives Of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience, 262(5), 429.
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