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n. A psychological condition marked by severe decreases or increases of movement. It is variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mutism, catalepsy, agitation, and extreme flexibility or rigidity of the limbs and is most often associated with schizophrenia. [New Latin, from German Katatonie, from Greek katatonos, stretching tight, from katateinein, to stretch tight : kata-, intensive pref.; see CATA- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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