.JPG)
Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Waxy flexibility
Waxy flexibility is one of the twelve symptoms that can lead to the diagnosis of catatonia. It is a psychomotor symptom that results in a decreased response to stimuli and a tendency to remain in an immobile posture. If one were to move the arm of someone with waxy flexibility, the patient would keep that arm where it had been positioned until moved again as if positioning malleable wax. Attempts to reposition the patient are met by "slight, even resistance".
Waxy flexibility is a specific symptom of catatonia. It refers to the patient's body showing resistance to being moved. Alteration of an individual's posture is similar to bending a warm candle.
Waxy flexibility often develops with other symptoms of catatonia, including:
The exact cause of waxy flexibility, and catatonia, is unclear, but there are some reasonable possibilities. They are mainly believed to occur as a result of other underlying diseases.
Historically, waxy flexibility, and catatonia, have been linked to schizophrenia. A prospective and retrospective study that followed the DSM-3 criteria found that there was a 24.4% rate of catatonia to occur in schizophrenia patients. However, recent research showed that there is a significant decrease in diagnosed catatonic subtypes among schizophrenic disorders during the past decades. This is believed to be the result of sociocultural developments and the use of neuroleptics. In addition, the symptoms were better to fit outside of schizophrenia, which results in the possibility of a distinct clinical entity of catatonia or a variant of mood disorder.
Mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression are typical conditions in which catatonia manifests. Neurological injuries such as seizures, neoplasms, and other diseases like Parkinson's can also result in catatonia. Catatonia can also occur as a result of autoimmune, paraneoplastic, infectious, metabolic, and specific drug exposures and poisoning. Research suggests that genes do play a role, as the probability would be higher if close relatives have had this symptom.
According to research, the underlying mechanisms are linked to abnormalities in certain neurotransmitters, especially GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters. These are the neurotransmitters that govern both emotional and cognitive functioning. Catatonic symptoms are possible outcomes of a disruption in the GABAergic neurotransmitter system. It is theorized that catatonia patients' brains exhibit decreased GABA action.
Waxy flexibility can be usually confirmed through observation. It generally does not require lab testing or imaging, but certain testing such as EEGs, MRIs, or CTs can help to confirm the underlying cause. Waxy flexibility alongside two or more other symptoms such as stupor or negativism is enough to warrant a diagnosis of catatonia.
Hub AI
Waxy flexibility AI simulator
(@Waxy flexibility_simulator)
Waxy flexibility
Waxy flexibility is one of the twelve symptoms that can lead to the diagnosis of catatonia. It is a psychomotor symptom that results in a decreased response to stimuli and a tendency to remain in an immobile posture. If one were to move the arm of someone with waxy flexibility, the patient would keep that arm where it had been positioned until moved again as if positioning malleable wax. Attempts to reposition the patient are met by "slight, even resistance".
Waxy flexibility is a specific symptom of catatonia. It refers to the patient's body showing resistance to being moved. Alteration of an individual's posture is similar to bending a warm candle.
Waxy flexibility often develops with other symptoms of catatonia, including:
The exact cause of waxy flexibility, and catatonia, is unclear, but there are some reasonable possibilities. They are mainly believed to occur as a result of other underlying diseases.
Historically, waxy flexibility, and catatonia, have been linked to schizophrenia. A prospective and retrospective study that followed the DSM-3 criteria found that there was a 24.4% rate of catatonia to occur in schizophrenia patients. However, recent research showed that there is a significant decrease in diagnosed catatonic subtypes among schizophrenic disorders during the past decades. This is believed to be the result of sociocultural developments and the use of neuroleptics. In addition, the symptoms were better to fit outside of schizophrenia, which results in the possibility of a distinct clinical entity of catatonia or a variant of mood disorder.
Mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression are typical conditions in which catatonia manifests. Neurological injuries such as seizures, neoplasms, and other diseases like Parkinson's can also result in catatonia. Catatonia can also occur as a result of autoimmune, paraneoplastic, infectious, metabolic, and specific drug exposures and poisoning. Research suggests that genes do play a role, as the probability would be higher if close relatives have had this symptom.
According to research, the underlying mechanisms are linked to abnormalities in certain neurotransmitters, especially GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters. These are the neurotransmitters that govern both emotional and cognitive functioning. Catatonic symptoms are possible outcomes of a disruption in the GABAergic neurotransmitter system. It is theorized that catatonia patients' brains exhibit decreased GABA action.
Waxy flexibility can be usually confirmed through observation. It generally does not require lab testing or imaging, but certain testing such as EEGs, MRIs, or CTs can help to confirm the underlying cause. Waxy flexibility alongside two or more other symptoms such as stupor or negativism is enough to warrant a diagnosis of catatonia.