- Patients with catatonic schizophrenia may have periods when they move clumsily or irregularly, speak rapidly and incoherently, pace and flail their arms or turn in circles. Even when not experiencing mental symptoms, patients with schizophrenia may not bathe or eat regularly.
- Auditory and visual hallucinations, delusional beliefs and lack of emotions all mark forms of schizophrenia.
- People with catatonic schizophrenia may act out in anger, repeat the same words and actions obsessively, repeat the words and actions of others, and withdraw from society and family.
- Research into the causes of schizophrenia summarized by the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that people with schizophrenia have an imbalance between the mood-regulating neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate. Some individuals with schizophrenia also have physical irregularities in their gray matter volume, ventricle structure and brain cell metabolism.
- People suffering from catatonic schizophrenia can find it difficult to hold a job. Also, schizophrenia puts people at risk for depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and committing or being a victim of crime.
