Catatonia can look different from person to person. It can take many forms, change over time, and appear in many settings—psychiatric, neurologic, or general medical. It can also occur in autism and other developmental conditions, among older adults, and in people with medical or neurological illness.

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Recognizing catatonia early allows for effective treatment and helps prevent serious medical complications.

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Accurate diagnosis involves a systematic and collaborative assessment by a healthcare professional familiar with how to evaluate catatonia.
 

Because symptoms can fluctuate, overlap with other conditions, and appear differently across settings, collaboration among clinicians, families, and caregivers is essential.
 

Families often provide the most complete understanding of a person’s usual functioning (baseline) and describe changes over time. These observations are often the key to recognizing catatonia and understanding the context in which it developed.