Disorder of motor activity in which the person seems to maintain a position without any movement is _______.

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Explanation

Catalepsy is defined as the passive induction of a posture that is held against gravity.
It is a state of muscular rigidity and lack of response to external stimuli, causing the person to maintain a fixed position.
A key feature often associated with catalepsy is 'waxy flexibility' (flexibilitas cerea), where the limbs offer initial resistance before allowing themselves to be repositioned, much like a wax candle.
This symptom is a hallmark sign of catatonia, a syndrome that can occur with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and other medical conditions.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Mannerisms are odd, stereotyped, but purposeful movements. They are actions, not a state of immobility.
Option C: Verbigeration is a disorder of speech, not motor activity. It involves the meaningless repetition of words or phrases.
Option D: Negativism is an active, motiveless resistance to all suggestions or attempts to be moved. It is the opposite of the passive immobility seen in catalepsy.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Psychomotor Symptoms in Mental Health Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing catalepsy is crucial for the early diagnosis of catatonia, which is a medical emergency.
Nurses must assess for other signs of catatonia (e.g., mutism, stupor, negativism) and monitor vital signs, as malignant catatonia can lead to hyperthermia and autonomic instability.
Prompt intervention for catatonia, often with benzodiazepines (like lorazepam) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), can be life-saving and prevent complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), malnutrition, and pressure ulcers.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests the definition of a specific psychiatric term.
First, identify the key descriptive phrase in the question stem: 'maintain a position without any movement'.
Next, systematically review the definition of each option.
Mannerism involves movement, so it's incorrect.
Verbigeration is a speech disorder, not a motor disorder, so it's incorrect.
Negativism is active resistance, not passive immobility, so it's incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Psychomotor Symptoms in Mental Health Disorders
Stem keywords: Disorder of motor activity, maintain a position, without any movement
Lead-in keywords: is
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QYNRxJ3FlFVrKjia2nW-SS

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

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 336-338

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