Catalepsy

How does the reader feel when he sees another person in front of him who has fallen into a stupor? Probably, many will become somehow uncomfortable, because this is an unnatural state for a living being, immediately reminding us that we are not eternal. And what if, in addition to the lack of response to words and actions, does the person still take an unusual pose, in which he will stay for a rather long time? Even more eerie sight. And it has its name - catalepsy, which in Greek means "holding".

Disease or temporary condition?

When we look at the speeches of famous magicians, who force a person to hang in one position in the air, leaning only on the backs of the chairs, we experience delight and admiration. Watching horror films about exorcism (expelling the devil), where a person's inspiring spirit forces his body to bend and take incredible postures, is another way to raise the level of adrenaline. But such spectacles can surprise or frighten only a child, because everyone understands that behind such "tricks" nothing serious or frightening is concealed.

It's another thing to see this in everyday life. This is how you sit, communicate with a person, and suddenly he for no reason ceases to react to the outside world, as if he does not see anything around him. This stupor and frozen posture in an ordinary person in ordinary life, anyone can scare. It is this condition that is usually called catalepsy, because a person can hold a stiff posture for a long time.

Not only that a person in this state resembles a doll, he can also be manipulated as a puppet. If a person is raised, he will stand, sit down - he will sit, raise his hand, and he will freeze with his hand raised. A person with a similar pathology can be given any unthinkable posture, and no matter how uncomfortable it may be, the patient will save it until the end of an attack of catalepsy. That is why pathology has a different name - waxy flexibility.

When the attack passes, the person returns to normal, as if there were not these few minutes, hours or even days of stillness, reminiscent of a sound sleep with open eyes. The most interesting thing is that during the attack some patients see illusions, reminiscent of dreams. But there is also a part of people who, in the process of catalepsy, are fully conscious, sees and hears everything that is happening around him and can even describe his feelings after "awakening".

Since it is not normal for a normal person to be in an uncomfortable position for a long time (unless, of course, it is a masochist) and not react to others, many will be interested in  what kind of illness it is, when such seizures occur, and whether it is contagious. In occasion of last to experience precisely it is not necessary, it not a virus which is transferred on air or from the person to the person. Catalepsy is a condition that is in the competence of psychiatrists and neurologists. These doctors are engaged in its study.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Epidemiology

Statistics on the incidence of the symptom of catalepsy in various patients are silent. But there is information that the pathology does not depend on the sex of the patient and the nature of his activity. As for young patients, catalepsy in children is diagnosed mainly in adolescence against the background of boiling love and other passions. Most often it is one of the manifestations of narcolepsy.

A similar symptom is rare. In historical chronicles, this state of numbness of muscles and the slowing down of the body's functions were associated with vampires. But if the attack was long, it did not reach before, because during it, in the absence of medical literacy, they diagnosed death and buried the person alive. Benefit to date, this phenomenon has already been more or less studied, and similar episodes of burial of living people are no longer observed.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Causes of the catalepsy

It must be said that catalepsy is not regarded as a separate disease. Attacks of catatonic stupor, characterized by blocking movements, lack of speech activity, increased rigidity of muscles (hypertension) are a syndrome characteristic of mental disorders. They can be observed in patients with schizophrenia, with hysterical fits and some other pathological conditions.

Catalepsy can also be observed in people with a neurological diagnosis of narcolepsy. This pathology from the category of hypersomnia, when a person in broad daylight is more drowsy, and there are episodes of sudden falling asleep during the performance of the usual activities. Catalepsy in this case is considered as one of the manifestations of narcolepsy.

Catalepsy may be the result of organic lesions and brain injuries with violation of neural connections. It is clear that conditions similar to cataleptic seizures can be observed in patients with Parkinson's disease, which resulted from improper treatment of encephalitis.

All the above-described moments speak of catalepsy as a disease. In fact, such bouts of inhibition were recorded even in the case of other psychotic disorders, which are usually not inherent in this symptom. The cause of this condition was not the disease itself, but its inadequate treatment. This is an overdose of psychotropic drugs, in particular neuroleptics ("Haloperidol", "Triftazin", etc.), blocking the synthesis of the neurotransmitter dopamine (the hormone responsible for human activity and stimulating to activity, from which a person enjoys).

But the fact that the state of catalepsy can be observed with some pathologies and the introduction of a high dose of antipsychotics does not in any way explain the reasons for its appearance. Doctors have not been able to accurately answer the question, why there is such a strange attack in the form of a "short circuit" in humans. Although this closure, in truth, short can not be called always.

So far, scientists are considering two basic theories of the development of catalepsy. One is based on the fact that the state of inhibition can be caused by neurological disorders, which is confirmed by the phenomenon of narcolepsy. Another is looking for the reasons for the incomprehensible stupor in mental factors, because often the attack begins against a backdrop of vivid emotions and experiences. Sometimes you can see how the hysterics are replaced by a sharp stupor, at the exit from which the person continues to experience the same emotional excitement, as if an invisible switch is hidden inside. In this case, catalepsy looks like a protective reaction of the psyche.

[16], [17], [18], [19]

Pathogenesis

It is likely that in the pathogenesis of catalepsy, the combined effect of neurological and psychological causes should be considered, but no one has yet proved this theory. Experience shows that the risk factors for cataleptic attacks can be considered: some mental and neurological disorders, organic brain diseases, the use of neuroleptics in high dosages and even some psychological techniques, which we will discuss below.

[20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29]

Symptoms of the catalepsy

The clinical picture of pure catalepsy (empty catatonia) is reduced to a sudden immobilization of the patient's body, while his muscles become unusually hard or resemble wax, on which there are traces of pressure from the fingers. A sense of sudden death is created, although during listening you can hear a slight breathing and pulse, which, as it were, also slow down along with motor reactions, but to a lesser extent. Breathing becomes more rare, and the frequency of palpitations decreases, which are felt in the form of a pulse.

It must be said that monitoring a person in the state of catalepsy is not a pleasant experience. A stare at a single point, the absence of eyelid movements, blinking, facial expressions and any other movements are characteristic features of a cataleptic attack, which can terrify the observer, for it seems that the person suddenly died.

The described symptoms can be called the first signs of catalepsy, although they are also characteristic for catatonia - a deeper disorder that includes not only impaired motor activity: catatonic stupor characteristic of catalepsy, or arousal (a condition somewhat reminiscent of the demon possession depicted in horror films) hallucinations, delusional disorders, etc.

Another feature of catalepsy is that in a state of forced stupor a person's sensitivity to any stimuli decreases. This explains how, in the state of rigid catalepsy, a rather heavy human body can rest on objects with a rather sharp surface, but it does not feel any pain at the same time.

The same applies to internal stimuli. While the patient is in a state of stupor, he is not subject to feelings of shame, fear, etc., which would force him to perform some kind of action. He resignedly allows him to perform various manipulations with his body, give him any poses, even those in which a person usually experiences severe discomfort or pain.

Scientists associate the state of catalepsy with the increased suggestibility of a particular individual. This can explain why not all patients with schizophrenia, narcolepsy and other pathologies, in which catatonic stupor can be observed, are able to remain in a similar state.

Increased suggestibility can also explain the presence in some cases of catalepsy of other symptoms:

• Unthinking repeated repetition of the same words heard from another person, according to the principle of echoes (in psychiatry such a state is commonly called echolalia),
• A mechanical repetition of someone else's phrases (echophrenia).

If there is resistance to external actions, the patient starts to act opposite to those about which he is being asked, or monotonously repeats the movements of other people, then here it makes sense to speak not about catalepsy, but about catatonia. The attack of catalepsy is a complete immobilization of the body, or rather, a condition where there is no control over the change in the position of the body, so the patient can not change even the uncomfortable position for him.

Despite the stupor, patients are fairly well maintained balance. Usually a stupor does not arise from scratch. He is preceded by strong emotional experiences and even hysterics, during which a person can actively gesticulate, make different movements, change the pose. But at some point his body seems to be turned off, and he keeps this static posture to the very end of the attack, no matter how uncomfortable it was. For example, the patient may freeze, leaning forward, but he will not fall (unless, of course, he does not push).

The most interesting thing is that during a paroxysm, which is not really instantaneous, since it spreads gradually from the muscles of the neck and hands to the tips of your toes, a person can hear the words and see everything that happens to him, but consciously respond to the actions, committed with him, is not in force. True, some patients, especially with narcolepsy, during the catatonic stupor plunge into a state resembling a dream and even dreaming, in many ways reminiscent of hallucinations.

With catalepsy, the sensitivity of the body is so reduced that a person does not react to changes in thermal characteristics and pain. When the effect of an attack ends, the sensitivity of the legs first returns, and then gradually and the whole body, up to the head. All the functions of the body come to normal, which seemed hardly noticeable during the attack, as if the person is between life and death.

Another thing is that one can never foresee how long the cataleptic attack will last, unless it is, of course, caused by hypnosis. In the latter case, the duration of the condition is monitored by the doctor conducting the hypnosis session. If catalepsy arose naturally on the background of strong experiences, its duration will remain a mystery.

Most often it is about a few minutes, after which the patient comes to, usually experiencing a fairly strong nervous excitement, carrying out affective movements, etc. But there are cases that catalepsy persists for a longer period. A person can be in a state of numbness not for an hour or two, but for a day or even a week or a month, then return to normal life.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37]

Catalepsy and hypnosis

It would be wrong to treat catalepsy only as a kind of pathology. An attack of catalepsy can be provoked even by a completely healthy person. This is what we see in the work of the great magicians.

The fact is that cataleptic seizures can occur in different ways. Wax flexibility is in fact one of the forms of catalepsy, when a person falls into a stupor, but his body remains supple and he can be given various forms that a person will keep for a long time.

But there is also a form of state in which excessive muscle tension is observed that does not allow changing the person's position. He remains motionless in the state in which he found his attack. And the muscle tension is so strong that you can lift a person's body by the head or legs, and at the same time he will not move. This condition is called rigid catalepsy. It is this that we observe in the speeches of the magicians, when a man, stretched out "on the string," seems to be "hanging" in the air, relying on objects with a small area, which in the ordinary state is simply impossible.

How to cause catalepsy? Of course, with the help of hypnosis. In the speeches, we think that the magician hypnotizes all of us, so that it seemed to us that the person "hangs" in the air. And we do not even think about that the assistant magician himself can be hypnotized.

When we talked about catatonic attacks, peculiar to various mental and neurological pathologies, it was a question of spontaneous catalepsy, i.e. About an uncontrolled state that occurs suddenly without external interference.

If the motor stupor is caused by hypnosis, they mean an inspired catalepsy, which psychiatrists cause for a specific purpose. It helps to check the depth of the hypnotic state and carry out such procedures as guidance, post-hypnotic suggestion, introduction to amnesia and many others.

During a hypnosis session, an experienced psychotherapist or psychologist, in verbal or non-verbal ways, can cause a state of catalepsy at any stage of the hypnotic session, although most often this occurs when deduced from hypnosis. Even a light trance condition can lead to catalepsy. An advanced catalepsy can be used to demonstrate the capabilities of a doctor, which causes more confidence in patients, to change the perception of reality and increase the level of suggestibility by more than 50%.

[38], [39], [40], [41], [42]

Forms

We have already mentioned that there are two types of catalepsy, which differ in the reactions of the patient's body. Catalepsy with wax flexibility is characterized by the ability to change the patient's posture without his desire. In this case, the muscles of a man resemble wax, which allows you to conduct various manipulations on the body.

It must be said that the various poses that can be attached to a body subject to catalepsy, that's not all. An unusual expression can be given even to the patient's face, and at the same time it will not change independently until the end of the attack. Pressing on the abdomen will be accompanied by the appearance on it of dents from the fingers, which remain for a long time, until the person comes to a normal state and the muscle tone is restored.

Rigid catalepsy is a condition opposite to wax flexibility (flexible catalepsy). The muscles of the patient thus experience the strongest tension and become hard, like metal. To change a pose of the person during an attack any more it will not turn out. It will remain unchanged, even if bent in the lower back of a man to lift in one of the limbs. In other words, a person will resemble a statue.

Hypnotic catalepsy is a condition similar to wax flexibility. The hypnotist can manipulate the patient's limbs to achieve certain goals. Most often in the hypnotic practices use hands.

It should be understood that the very concept of catalepsy means immobilization, but does not specify specifically which part of the body it refers to. In natural conditions, catalepsy covers the whole body, including the muscles of the face, neck, trunk, upper and lower extremities. If it is a question of inspired catalepsy, immobilized, at the request of a hypnotist, may not be the whole body, but only a certain part of it.

The catalepsy of the hand is one of the hypnotic techniques developed by the psychologist Eric Erickson in his time, when not the whole body but only the upper limb is immobilized. All this happens in a non-verbal way, because in the regulation of muscle tone, consciousness does not participate. The tone balance is established by the cerebellum as a result of inconspicuous swaying movements of the patient's hand controlled by the hypnotist. To be more precise, the hypnotist birch person behind the wrist or covers it with his own hand and carries out manipulations, which ultimately lead to the patient's hand hanging in the air in a certain position. The hypnotist can offer the patient to open their eyes and look at the result from the side.

Sometimes for practice, a certain verbal preparation of the patient is required, which aims to calm a person and allow him to produce a hypnotic phenomenon called catalepsy.

Why do we need such a hypnotic technique? With it, you can easily and quickly put a person into a trance, if you start the session with the catalepsy of the hand. The fact that a person unconsciously began to hold his hand on the weight indicates that cooperation between the hypnotist and the patient is established. So you can continue suggesting in verbal ways, for example, ask a person to close their eyes, remember certain moments from life, etc.

If catalepsy is performed after the patient has been injected into the trance, its purpose is usually to deepen the condition. Those. Under the influence of the suggestion of a person, they are plunged into a deeper trance after his consciousness is ready to give way to the unconscious. Signal to this will be a pubescent hand. It is through this hypnotic tactic that one can determine the depth of a person's immersion into trance, because a person himself is not able to appreciate such nuances, taking for a trance the usual euphoria.

Separately, we can consider catalepsy, caused by taking medications. At the same time, the manifestations of pharmacological catalepsy are no different from the symptoms of catatonic stupor arising on the background of hysterics or excessive excitement.

A special type of pathological condition, characterized by numbness of the whole body, is considered astral catalepsy, which can be observed at night. Exotericists explain its appearance by the influence of otherworldly forces. Allegedly at this time the soul is separated from the body and can communicate with aliens, ghosts and other invisible entities that both force the physical body to remain immovable, and also get recharge from the world mind. Moreover, it is believed that knowing a certain knowledge, you can learn how to call astral catalepsy in yourself and control it.

But we will descend from heaven to earth. Official medicine of the exotericists, of course, rejects. It is believed that catalepsy in a dream, better known as sleep paralysis, is a manifestation of mental disorders, and not a journey outside the body, when an immobile person is observed for the movements of his astral body (soul), and not the intrigues of aliens or ghosts.

What does a person experience during an attack of astral catalepsy:

• immobility of the whole body (paralysis), the inability to move,
• feeling that something invisible with all its weight presses on top of the chest, not allowing any movement,
• unexplained loud noise from all sides (different patients describe it in different ways, but the sound is always loud),
• an incomprehensible vibration throughout the body, perhaps because of muscle overstrain, although the person remains motionless from the side,
• labored breathing, which patients explain by the pressure of an invisible entity on the chest,
• Flickering before the eyes of the lights,
• feeling that in a room where a person sleeps, there is a terrible creature that is not visible to the eye, which can even touch the body (sensation of cold touch).

Judging by the symptoms, it becomes clear that at some point of sleep a person has a certain failure in the brain, accompanied by neurological and mental disorders. As psychologists say, when a person is awake, consciousness works, and during sleep, consciousness gives way to the subconscious (imagination), which paints pictures of dreams, mostly taken from the past of conscious experience. During the awakening, the reverse process occurs, i.e. The subconscious mind recedes and the consciousness turns on. If, as a result of some kind of malfunction, consciousness enters earlier than awakening occurs, sleep paralysis occurs. It's just that it's very difficult for the mind to react normally to images produced by the subconscious, but it perceives the tone of muscles lowered in sleep as external pressure.

In fact, astral catalepsy and the usual are two completely different states with similar external manifestations. In both cases, the person is immobilized, i. E. Can not consciously control their movements.

[43], [44], [45]

Complications and consequences

Catalepsy is an uncharacteristic state in which it loses control over its own body while remaining conscious. Virtually all body functions are slowed down, but still do not stop. Heart let and more slowly, but pumps blood. Breathing, although it becomes less frequent, is preserved, not allowing the brain to die from hypoxia. After an attack a person can return to normal life.

It turns out that in itself catalepsy as a pathological condition does not pose a danger to the body. It's not for nothing that psychologists and psychotherapists are actively practicing hypnotic practices with his participation. But despite the fact that on the health of the patient and the further work of the brain, catalepsy is practically not reflected (apparently for the static position of the body the slow operation of the body systems is sufficient), although the seizures can be repeated more than once and last for a long time, we can not consider catalepsy as a whole a safe phenomenon .

It is difficult to imagine the consequences that can arise if a driver, who is very angry at someone, suddenly "disconnects" in a fit of strong emotional experiences. Even having seen the obstacle ahead (and it can be both an object and a person), he can do nothing to prevent an accident, because his body will be immobilized and beyond the control of the mind. The only advantage in this situation will be only a high pain threshold.

"Frozen" a person can and in other equally dangerous situations, for example, in the middle of the carriageway, where he ran out in hysterics, while performing work that requires attention and coupled with danger, etc. Such people simply can not be entrusted with a responsible task, because a burst of emotions can temporarily (and for how long?) They "turn off".

In general, patients with catalepsy need constant supervision. They need to be protected from dangers and troubles that can affect a person's mental state. But sometimes it is so difficult to do, because from the outside, the repeated unusual stupor can be perceived as an object for ridicule. Particularly cruel in this regard are children and adolescents who do not understand the complexity of the situation and the impact on their psyche of their ridicule and mockery (and many will find it extremely fun to change the poses and expression of a person with catalepsy, making them cause for laughter).

After the end of the attack, it is desirable that next to the patient is someone who can restrain affective impulses, pacify the unusual excitement of the patient without an aggressive mechanical effect.

Does catalepsy have a positive side? Perhaps it is, if one considers the likelihood that the attack has warned of some dangerous action that may follow a hysterical fit (for example, a suicide attempt). However, the affective behavior of patients after an attack can reduce all to "no."

[46], [47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52]

Diagnostics of the catalepsy

Catalepsy is a completely unexplored condition, which, however, should not be left without medical assistance. And not only because such attacks can be dangerous for the patient and the people around him. Another important reason to get to the bottom of the phenomenon is the fact that catalepsy in natural conditions does not arise by itself, but is evidence of mental disorders requiring special correction until they harm someone.

It is clear that any diagnosis begins with an examination of the patient and communication with him, during which the doctor finds out about the symptoms and sensations of the patient. Since the scientists did not agree on the general opinion, what causes are decisive in the development of catalepsy: mental or neurological, the patient is necessarily examined by two physicians: a psychiatrist and a neurologist.

Catalepsy is often one of the syndromes of serious mental pathologies. For example, in schizophrenia or hysteria a productive dialogue between the doctor and the patient may not take place. In this case, they resort to the help of the patient's relatives who will be able to tell how the seizures begin, how they manifest themselves, what precedes them, etc.

Since catalepsy can be caused by the action of psychotropic drugs or intoxication, a laboratory blood test is mandatory. A general and biochemical blood test is performed as standard, and an analysis is made for AIDS and syphilis. If a bacterial infection is suspected (and it may well cause brain damage with different consequences), a study is conducted to identify the causative agent of the disease. Additionally, the level of sugar and thyroid hormones is determined. If a drug is suspected to be capable of producing a condition similar to catalepsy, a special urinalysis is performed.

It is clear that the analyzes themselves give very little information about the causes of catalepsy, because mental and neurological disorders can not be diagnosed in this way. More information can be given by computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, spinal puncture, angiography of cerebral vessels and other instrumental studies.

[53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58], [59]

Differential diagnosis

The results of examination, communication with the patient and his relatives, analyzes and various studies that help shed light on the origins of catalepsy play a role for differential diagnosis and final diagnosis. If schizophrenia and hysteria are usually not difficult to diagnose by the behavior of the patient, then catalepsy due to the impact on the brain of psychoactive substances or toxins (for example, with alcoholism) is difficult to identify. Here, communication with the patient's relatives and information about registration with the narcologist will come to the rescue.

About narcolepsy and daytime sleep, the doctor can learn from the patient's words and the results of polysomnography, which is conducted by a specialist somnologist. Sometimes extra brain encephalography and a specialized MSLT test are performed. But again we have to find out the cause of narcolepsy, in which attacks of catalepsy are possible. And this can be a head injury, and severe emotional experiences, and infections, and disruption of the pituitary. You can not also exclude a hereditary factor.

If the person's behavior is adequate, he does not take drugs and psychotropic substances, does not abuse alcohol, does not suffer from narcolepsy and mental disorders, perhaps the reason lies in organic brain lesions. In this case, a more detailed examination with the participation of a neurologist, an oncologist, a neurosurgeon and other specialists will be required.

Catalepsy may be one of the manifestations of catatonic syndrome. In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only the appearance of the motor stupor, but also the presence of other symptoms: a monotonous repetition of the movements and speech of other people, nervous excitement, resistance to change of posture, negativism, etc.

If catalepsy is delayed, it is very important to differentiate it from paralysis and diseases accompanied by impairment of motor functions, lethargy, coma.

Treatment of the catalepsy

We have already said that we should not consider catalepsy as a separate disease. It is rather a symptom of individual mental and neurological pathologies, the treatment of which must be addressed in the first place. To treat catalepsy without revealing its causes does not make sense.

Depending on the cause of catalepsy, its treatment is carried out in psychiatric hospitals, psychological centers or in neurology. But in any case, the treatment scheme includes special psychotherapeutic techniques. One of the most promising areas of psychotherapists consider the method of interactive imagogics, based on imaginative thinking. In this case, the patient is helped to present the diseased organ (in this case, the brain), to determine the problem causing cataleptic seizures, at the unconscious level, and then mentally draw a positive image that will help in the treatment of the diseased organ. Now the patient can only imagine the actions of his healing with the help of a positive image. Those. A problem from the subconscious level to translate into the conscious, to begin to effectively combat it.

It should be borne in mind that catalepsy can be a manifestation of various diseases, so approaches to treatment may differ markedly. If the seizures are caused by strong emotional experiences, stabilization of the patient's psyche with the help of psychotherapeutic sessions, as well as the use of sedatives, tranquilizers and other psychotropic medications, depending on the diagnosis, will be required.

Catalepsy as one of the manifestations of catatonia requires complex treatment with the use of sedatives, benzodiazepines, antiglutamate drugs, electroconvulsive therapy, antipsychotics (used very carefully).

In the treatment of catalepsy as a symptom of narcolepsy, improvement of sleep quality comes to the forefront. In the evening, such patients are prescribed sleeping pills, and in the daytime stimulant preparations that help to fight with drowsiness. The use of tricyclic antidepressants in narcolepsy helps to reduce the likelihood of cataleptic seizures and sleep paralysis.

Medical procedures must necessarily be supported by attention from relatives, who will need to monitor the emotional state of the patient, not allowing strong experiences, protecting him from offenders and ridicule from the outside. Ideally, a person with attacks of catalepsy should always be supervised. This will protect him from many troubles (bullying, trauma, tragedy), because the moment of the beginning of the cataleptic attack can not be calculated.

If a person has had such an attack and he has been lingering, you need to understand that before you is a living person who has certain physiological needs. A living organism can not exist without food and food. It is also clear that feeding a person in a motor stupor is possible only by means of a probe or infusion of liquids and solutions, which should be done in a hospital.

When a person comes to himself, it is better to see his native people next to him, that will act soothingly on an excited psyche. Later a psychotherapist and a psychologist should work with the patient.

Whatever it was, and the treatment of catalepsy is a long way to recovery, laid by an experienced physician, taking into account the clinical picture of the underlying diseases and the causes of attacks of motor stupor.

Prevention

Prevention of catalepsy is primarily the treatment of diseases that cause such an unusual symptom, as well as stabilization of their psycho-emotional state by normalizing the regime of the day with sufficient time for rest, applying various relaxation techniques, practicing yoga, etc. This will help to avoid hysterics and severe shocks, followed by a usual attack of catalepsy.

Catalepsy is a syndrome to which people eventually learned to treat as a disease, rather than the machinations of the devil. Nevertheless, patients often become objects of ridicule and mockery on the part of strangers. But no one is immune from the disease, and people are often not guilty in their pathology. Probably, it's time to not only recognize the disease, but also learn to treat sick people with a sufficient amount of sympathy and understanding, and not show their ignorance and primitive instincts.

[60], [61], [62], [63], [64], [65], [66], [67], [68]

Forecast

We must immediately say that the prognosis of the treatment of catalepsy entirely depends on the cause of the occurrence of such an unusual condition, the severity of the disease causing cataleptic seizures, the timely access to the doctor for help and the effectiveness of the therapeutic measures prescribed by the physician.

A significant role in the prognosis of recovery is played by the emotional background of the patient during treatment and during the seizures themselves. When a person is in a cataleptic stupor, he remains conscious, sees everything, hears and understands, therefore, discussion of his condition should be carried out extremely cautiously, without ridicule, dislike, rudeness, which cause an additional trauma, which only slows down the healing process, does not become the cause of an attack.

If a person stiffens in an uncomfortable position, do not sharply and rudely try to give him a pose, more decent in your opinion. This brings the patient unnecessary worries. A person feels an attitude towards himself, because he is not in an unconscious state. When the change in the posture is carried out for the benefit of the patient gently and accurately to comfortably sit or lay it, the patient takes it as care of himself and calms down.