Fink and Taylor developed a catatonia rating scale to identify the syndrome. A diagnosis is verified by a benzodiazepine or barbiturate test. The diagnosis is validated by the quick response to either benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). While proven useful in the past, barbiturates are no longer commonly used in psychiatry; thus the option of either benzodiazepines or ECT.

Catalepsy is a symptom of certain nervous disorders or conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. It is also a characteristic symptom of cocaine withdrawal, as well as one of the features of catatonia. It can be caused by schizophrenia treatment with anti-psychotics, such as haloperidol, and by the anesthetic ketamine. Protein kinase A has been suggested as a mediator of cataleptic behavior.

Catalepsy (from Greek "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.

According to the DSM-5, "Catatonia Associated with Another Mental Disorder (Catatonia Specifier)" (code 293.89 [F06.1]) is diagnosed if the clinical picture is dominated by at least three of the following:

- stupor (i.e., no psychomotor activity; not actively relating to environment)

- catalepsy (i.e., passive induction of a posture held against gravity)

- waxy flexibility (i.e., allow positioning by examiner and maintain position)

- mutism (i.e., no, or very little, verbal response [exclude if known aphasia])

- negativism (i.e., opposition or no response to instructions or external stimuli)

- posturing (i.e., spontaneous and active maintenance of a posture against gravity)

- mannerisms (i.e., odd, circumstantial caricature of normal actions)

- stereotypy (i.e., repetitive, abnormally frequent, non-goal-directed movements)

- agitation, not influenced by external stimuli

- grimacing (i.e. making a grimace like children)

- echolalia (i.e., mimicking another's speech)

- echopraxia (i.e., mimicking another's movements)

Other disorders (used additional code 293.89 [F06.1] to indicate the presence of the comorbid catatonia):

- Catatonia associated with autism spectrum disorder.

- Catatonia associated with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.

- Catatonia associated with brief psychotic disorder

- Catatonia associated with schizophreniform disorder

- Catatonia associated with schizoaffective disorder

- Catatonia associated with substance-induced psychotic disorder

- Catatonia associated with bipolar and related disorders.

- Catatonia associated with major depressive disorder

- Catatonic disorder due to another medical condition.

If catatonic symptoms are present but they are don't form the catatonic syndrome, a medication-induced or substance-induced aetiology should first be considered.

Autistic catatonia is a rare type of disorder that affects roughly 10 percent of all adults with autism spectrum disorder. Most of them are not severely affected but a few exhibit stupor and severe excitement, which is the most extreme form of the disorder. Full expression of excitement could be a sign of comorbid Bipolar disorder but more research is needed.

More than 40 symptoms has been identified to be a result of the disorder, but some of the symptoms overlap with those of autism spectrum disorder, making diagnosing difficult even for a seasoned professional. In a few cases stupor and hyperactivity can continue for weeks or even months.

During the excitement phase individuals show combativeness and can have delusions and hallucinations and can also pose a danger to themselves or others and can make marked destruction of property..In the later stages of medium and even more in the severe and if left untreatead lethal state they will also experience autonomic instability! (Behav Sci (Basel). 2015 Dec; 5(4): 576–588.

Published online 2015 Dec 9. doi: 10.3390/bs5040576

Childhood schizophrenia increases the risk for autistic catatonia later in life dramatically. There seems to be a common font of brain pathology for psychosis, catatonia and autism.

Treatment consists of high-dose lorazepam or in some cases ECT. The response to the treatment is usually good, especially if detected early

Every disease has different signs and symptoms. Some of them are persistent headache; pain in the face, back, arms, or legs; an inability to concentrate; loss of feeling; memory loss; loss of muscle strength; tremors; seizures; increased reflexes, spasticity, tics; paralysis; and slurred speech. One should seek medical attention if affected by these.

There is a wide range of treatments for central nervous system diseases. These can range from surgery to neural rehabilitation or prescribed medications.