# The return of catatonia as a distinct diagnostic category: symptom overlap with autism and schizophrenia and the risks of misdiagnosis - URL: https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/k1366 - Language: en - Last updated: not specified - Page title: The return of catatonia as a distinct diagnostic category: symptom overlap with autism and schizophrenia and the risks of misdiagnosis | WCP 2026 Summary > Symptom overlap between catatonia and other psychiatric syndromes places patients at serious risk of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. This page was translated automatically from Turkish. [Read the original](https://alisanburak.com/wcp-2026-posterler/k1366) This page is an AI-assisted Turkish summary of the study presented at the 26th World Congress of Psychiatry. The study belongs to the presenting authors; please refer to the original source when citing it. Symposium PresentationPsychosis and SchizophreniaNarrative review # The return of catatonia as a distinct diagnostic category: symptom overlap with autism and schizophrenia and the risks of misdiagnosis The return of catatonia as a separate diagnostic entity - symptomatic overlaps with autism and schizophrenia, and the risks associated with misdiagnosis Presenter: Neera Ghaziuddin Country: United States of America Session: 2400 - SCHIZOPHRENIA, AUTISM AND CATATONIA: NOSOLOGY, OVERLAP AND DIAGNOSTIC PITFALLS Date: Thu, 24.09.2026, 08:30 - 08:45 Room: Hall A5 Symptom overlap between catatonia and other psychiatric syndromes places patients at serious risk of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. The aim is to examine the difficulties in distinguishing catatonia from commonly co-occurring psychiatric syndromes and to discuss the clinical consequences of misdiagnosis. The method is a narrative review focusing on the historical overlap between catatonia and schizophrenia and on current practice, in which symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mood disorders, and psychotic spectrum disorders may be confused with catatonia. The review notes that, since Kahlbaum's original description in 1874, the syndrome has been recognized by its characteristic motor and speech disturbances as well as a range of behavioral and psychological symptoms. This latter group of features creates diagnostic uncertainty because of its overlap with other psychiatric conditions; delusions, bizarre behavior, and persistent laughing or crying may erroneously lead to a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. The frequent co-occurrence of catatonia and autism spectrum disorder compounds this difficulty, as core features of autism, such as abnormal movements, speech difficulties, and rigid patterns of thought and behavior, may obscure the recognition of superimposed catatonia. The excited subtype of catatonia, characterized by extreme hyperactivity and impulsive behavior, increases the likelihood of misdiagnosis as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or intermittent explosive disorder. Consequently, patients are prescribed antipsychotics, antidepressants, or mood stabilizers that do not produce meaningful improvement, prolonging the illness and delaying effective treatment. In conclusion, better recognition of catatonia is needed to reduce morbidity and enable timely, evidence-based interventions. How to cite this study APA 7: Ghaziuddin, N., et al. (2026, September 24). The return of catatonia as a separate diagnostic entity - symptomatic overlaps with autism and schizophrenia, and the risks associated with misdiagnosis [Symposium presentation]. 26th WPA World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP 2026), Stockholm, Sweden. Vancouver: Ghaziuddin N, et al. The return of catatonia as a separate diagnostic entity - symptomatic overlaps with autism and schizophrenia, and the risks associated with misdiagnosis [symposium presentation]. 26th WPA World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP 2026); 2026 Sep 23-26; Stockholm, Sweden. Author names and title formatting were generated automatically from the congress system; please check them against the original poster before use. ## On the same topic - [İlk atak psikoz ve esrar kullanım bozukluğu olan gençlerde yardım arama: Back to Reality video oyun serisinden çıkarımlar](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/ev0002) - [Kimyasal bağımlılığın eşlik ettiği tedaviye dirençli şizofreni hastalarında modern antipsikotiklerin kombine kullanımının klinik sonuçları](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/ev0014) - [Şizofrenide bilişsel gerileme: Sosyal işlevsellik üzerindeki etkisi ve bilişsel iyileştirme olanakları](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/ev0018) - [Ağır kişilerarası şiddet öyküsü olan, şizofrenisi olan ve olmayan bireylerde temel benlik bozukluklarının karşılaştırılması](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/ev0103) - [Yoğun çakra odaklı meditasyonla ilişkili bir ergende akut ve geçici psikotik bozukluk: olgu sunumu](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/ev0231) [All WCP 2026 summaries](https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler) --- Kaynak / Source: https://alisanburak.com/en/wcp-2026-posterler/k1366 İletişim / Contact: Bağdat Caddesi, Veli Güneysu Apt. No:453 K:4 D:9, Suadiye / Kadıköy, İstanbul · +90 532 642 95 25 · info@alisanburak.com · https://alisanburak.com/bagdat-caddesi-psikoterapi-iletisim