a syndrome seen most frequently in schizophrenia, characterized by muscular rigidity and mental stupor, sometimes alternating with great excitement and confusion.
cat·a·to·ni·a (kāt'ə-tō'nē-ə) n. An abnormal condition variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs. It is most often associated with schizophrenia.
[New Latin, from German Katatonie, from Greek katatonos, stretching tight, from katateinein, to stretch tight : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.] cat'a·ton'ic (-tŏn'ĭk) adj. & n., cat'a·ton'i·cal·ly adv.
catatonia cat·a·to·ni·a (kāt'ə-tō'nē-ə) n. An abnormal condition often associated with schizophrenia and variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs.