IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

Disorder of motor activity in which the person constantly maintains a position without any movement:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Explanation

  • Catalepsy is a psychomotor condition characterized by a trancelike state, muscular rigidity, and immobility.
  • A key feature is that the person maintains a fixed posture for a prolonged duration, often against gravity, and does not respond to external stimuli.
  • It is a classic sign of catatonia, which can occur in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other medical conditions.
  • The question describes a state of maintaining a position without movement, which is the definition of catalepsy or the related sign of posturing.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Verbigeration is a disorder of speech, not motor activity. It involves the repetitive, meaningless utterance of words or phrases.
  • Option B: Mannerism involves movement, specifically odd or exaggerated ways of performing normal, goal-directed actions. The question describes a lack of movement.
  • Option D: Negativism is an active resistance to suggestions or attempts to be moved. It is an oppositional behavior, not a passive maintenance of posture.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disorders of Motor Activity in Psychiatry as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Recognizing signs like catalepsy is crucial for nurses as it indicates a severe underlying psychiatric or medical condition (catatonia) that requires urgent assessment and intervention.
  • Patients with catalepsy are at high risk for complications such as dehydration, malnutrition, pressure sores, and deep vein thrombosis due to prolonged immobility. Nursing care must focus on safety, physiological support, and frequent repositioning.
  • What if the patient's limbs remained in a position only after the nurse moved them? This would be classified as 'waxy flexibility,' a closely related but distinct sign of catatonia, whereas catalepsy can be a passively induced posture.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core concepts in the question stem: 'disorder of motor activity' and 'maintains a position without any movement'.
  • This immediately directs you to evaluate the options based on their relationship to motor function and immobility.
  • Systematically evaluate each option. Ask yourself: 'Is this a disorder of motor activity? Does it involve maintaining a fixed position?'
  • Eliminate Verbigeration as it is a speech disorder.
  • Eliminate Mannerism as it involves exaggerated movement, not immobility.
  • Differentiate between Catalepsy (passive immobility) and Negativism (active resistance). The question describes maintaining a position, which aligns with catalepsy.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Disorders of Motor Activity in Psychiatry
  • Stem keywords: Disorder of motor activity, maintains a position, without any movement
  • Lead-in keywords: in which
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q7ucsfoxzJFSAnzIlPjIWK

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 2340-2342, 3899-3901, 2341-2343

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.