July 24th, 2025
Imagine your friend has been sitting in the same position on the couch for hours—motionless, expressionless, and seemingly disconnected from their surroundings. Their posture looks uncomfortable, even unnatural, and you're starting to worry: Is this more than just a bad day?
This could be a sign of catatonia, a serious condition sometimes linked to catatonic depression. In this blog, we’ll explore what catatonic depression is, its symptoms, and how to seek help.
Catatonia is derived from two Greek words; kata which means “down” and tonas which means “tone”. Catatonia is a condition in which a person or individual becomes very still or nonreactive to their overall environment due to an underlying condition. The person will become withdrawn, sit, or stand still for hours on end, and become unable to eat, drink, or speak aloud. It is considered to be a neuropsychiatric syndrome.
Neuropsychiatric disorders are medical conditions that include both neurology and psychiatric symptoms. Other common neuropsychiatric disorders include seizures and ADHD.
Catatonia is a very serious condition and can become life threatening if not properly addressed or treated.
Catatonic depression is a type of depression in which an individual does not speak and looks to be dazed for a long period of time. Catatonic depression is not the same as major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that is characterized by sadness, loss of interest in things that used to be engaging, worthlessness, and fatigue.
Catatonic symptoms are disturbance in someone’s speech or movements. Catatonic depression is a specific subtype of depression that includes all the symptoms of major depressive disorder along with catatonic symptoms.
As we mentioned, Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric condition marked by abnormal movement and behavior, such as immobility, mutism, or rigid posturing. It can occur alongside several mental health conditions—not just depression—including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or even medical conditions.
Catatonic depression specifically refers to when catatonia occurs in the context of a major depressive episode. In this case, a person may experience both the emotional symptoms of severe depression (like hopelessness or lack of motivation) and the physical symptoms of catatonia (like freezing in place or not speaking).
In short, catatonia is a syndrome, while catatonic depression is a specific diagnosis where catatonia appears as part of a depressive disorder.
In order for a psychiatrist or psychiatric provider to diagnose catatonia, the individual needs to be actively displaying three of the symptoms listed below:
In order to meet the diagnosis for catatonic depression (or as it is classified in DSM-5 depression with catatonia) the person must have at least three of the catatonia symptoms and meet all of the criteria for major depressive disorder. They must also actively rule out any other cause or other mental health disorder.
Those with catatonic depression symptoms often demonstrate a decline in their ability to engage in behaviors voluntarily or to communicate effectively with anyone in their life. This change in ability is often noted by those around them. This can be deeply impactful to one's daily functioning and may impact their relationships and professional performance.
The cause of catatonic depression is widely unknown. Many researchers have shared a number of theories about why they believe catatonic depression may occur in some individuals. These theories include:
Treating catatonic depression requires a comprehensive and timely approach. Because the symptoms can be severe and disabling, early intervention is crucial.
Catatonic depression treatment often includes a combination of medication, therapy, and in some cases, specialized interventions to help individuals regain functioning and emotional stability. Here is a breakdown of some common treatment options:
If you worry that you may be in an early stage or on the way to being catatonically depressed, please do not hesitate to contact a mental health professional. Clarity Clinic has a plethora of experienced clinicals who can help you with treatment.
Through this article, hopefully you can begin to learn some of the signs of catatonia. If you or a loved one are experiencing an emergency related to depression (such as feeling as though you may be a harm to yourself or others) please call 911 or go to the emergency room. If you are experience a non life-threatening emergency, you can text or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
For the best depression treatment and psychiatric care in Chicago, give Clarity Clinic a call at (312) 815-9660. Not only do we offer medication management, talk therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and TMS therapy in Chicago, we also offer Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP Programs) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP Programs) for depression.
Get the comprehensive and compassionate mental health care you deserve at Clarity Clinic, the best mental health clinic near you! (Clinic Locations: Loop, River North, Lakeview Belmont, Lakeview Broadway, Arlington Heights, Evanston).
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