What should you know about catatonic seizure?

Catatonia is a state involving changes such as extreme stillness, reduced speech, fixed posture, or unusual repetitive movements. A seizure can instead cause impaired awareness, staring, stiffening, jerking, or a period of confusion afterwards, although not every seizure includes dramatic movements. Fainting, low blood sugar, infection affecting the brain, medication effects, alcohol withdrawal, and other problems can also alter responsiveness. The appearance of an episode cannot reliably identify its cause, so a witness account and medical examination are valuable.

Protect the person from nearby hazards, cushion the head, loosen tight clothing around the neck, and record the start time. If possible, note breathing, eye position, movements, colour, responsiveness, and what happens afterwards. Do not restrain the person, put anything in the mouth, or give food, drink, or tablets until fully alert. Place the person on their side after convulsive movements stop if they are breathing normally, and stay with them.

Call emergency services for a first suspected seizure, an episode lasting several minutes, repeated episodes without recovery, breathing difficulty, serious injury, pregnancy, diabetes, or failure to return to usual awareness. Urgent help is also needed with fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, or possible alcohol withdrawal. Do not drive the person yourself if they remain confused, unresponsive, or unsafe.

Ask what the episode may represent, whether tests or specialist review are needed, and what safety plan to follow if it happens again. Share the timing, possible triggers, medicines, alcohol or substance changes, recent illness, blood sugar concerns, injuries, and the witness description.