Waxy flexibility

Waxy flexibility
Classification and external resources
MeSH D002375

Waxy flexibility is a psychomotor symptom of catatonic schizophrenia[1] which leads to a decreased response to stimuli and a tendency to remain in an immobile posture.[2]

For instance, if one were to move the arm of someone with waxy flexibility, they would keep their arm where one moved it until it was moved again, as if it were made from wax. Further alteration of an individual's posture is similar to bending a candle.[3] Although waxy flexibility has historically been linked to schizophrenia, there are also other disorders which it may be associated with, for example, mood disorder with catatonic behaviour.[4]

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. ↑ Caroff, Stanley N.; Mann, Stephan C. (2007). Catatonia: From Psychopathology to Neurobiology. American Psychiatric Pub. p. 51.
  4. ↑ American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV TR) 4th edition. USA: American Psychiatric Association


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