In William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the kindly Friar Laurence (in the course of a botched attempt to help the lovers) provides Juliet with a catalepsy-inducing potion so effective that Romeo tragically imagines his beloved's deathlike trance to be actual death and poisons himself in despair just before she awakens from her stupor-leading her to kill herself with his dagger upon discovering his suicide. a peculiar interest had been centred in him ever since he had fallen at a prayer meeting into a mysterious rigidity and suspension of consciousness which, lasting for an hour or more, had been mistaken for death. No, no it was no stroke that would let a man stand on his legs, like a horse between the shafts, and then walk off as soon as you can say "Gee!" But there might be such a thing as a man's soul being loose from his body, and going out and in, like a bird out of its nest and back and that was how folks got over-wise, for they went to school in this shell-less state to those who could teach them more than their neighbours could learn with their five senses and the parson. coming up to him he saw that Marner's eyes were set like a dead man's, and he spoke to him and shook him, and his limbs were stiff, and his hands clutched the bag as if they'd been made of iron. (Account of character Jem Rodney, the molecatcher) In the arts, catalepsy is often used for dramatic effect, sometimes as a plot device.
Teresa endured intermittent attacks of catalepsy from then on. Her legs became rigid, leaving her an invalid for three years. This episode was precipitated by the stress she experienced at the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation. Teresa of Avila experienced a prolonged bout of catalepsy that began in 1539. Such demonstrations have also been performed by Asian martial artists and attributed to the pneumatic vital energy known as qi.Īrmand D'Angour suggests that reports (such as that recounted in Plato's Symposium) of Socrates, in about 429 BC, standing perfectly still for hours on end during the Athenian campaign against Potidaea while seemingly deep in thought, are 'too extreme to be considered wholly a matter of rational choice,' and that 'it is reasonable to suppose that it was the symptom of an underlying physiological or psychological condition', such as catalepsy. Suggested or induced rigid catalepsy, of extended limbs or even the entire body, sometimes tested with heavy weights, has been a staple of stage hypnosis shows and even academic demonstrations of hypnotism since the late 18th century, as proof of extraordinary physical abilities possible in trance states. Unsuggested waxy catalepsy, sometimes accompanied by spontaneous anesthesia, is seen as an indicator of hypnotic trance. Protein kinase A has been suggested as a mediator of cataleptic behavior. It can be caused by schizophrenia treatment with anti-psychotics, such as haloperidol, and by the anesthetic ketamine. It is also a characteristic symptom of cocaine withdrawal, as well as one of the features of catatonia. Causes Ĭatalepsy is a symptom of certain nervous disorders or conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Symptoms include a rigid body, rigid limbs, limbs staying in same position when moved ( waxy flexibility), no response, loss of muscle control, and slowing down of bodily functions, such as breathing. Signs and symptoms Female patient with depression and catalepsy Rigidity of the body produced by catalepsy
Catalepsy (from Ancient Greek katálēpsis, κατάληψις, "seizing, grasping") is a nervous condition characterized by muscular rigidity and fixity of posture regardless of external stimuli, as well as decreased sensitivity to pain.
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