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Presentation comparison
EmergencyCovers catatonia, severe depression, hypoactive delirium, negative symptoms, medication effects, dementia, and dissociation.
4 of 7 diagnoses compared
| CriteriaComparison detail | CatatoniaEmergency |
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Motor syndrome with characteristic catatonic signs. Not simply very depressed or non-engaging.
Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
| Psychotic depressionEmergency |
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| Hypoactive deliriumEmergency |
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| Schizophrenia negative syndromeEmergency |
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| Medication over-sedationEmergencyNot selected |
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| DementiaEmergencyNot selected |
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| Dissociative shutdownEmergencyNot selected |
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| Why it fits | Mutism, staring, posturing, negativism, withdrawal, immobility, poor intake | Profound slowing, poverty of speech, guilt, nihilism, early waking, food refusal | New quiet withdrawal, drowsiness, slowed responses, poor intake after acute illness/surgery/medication change | Avolition, blunted affect, poverty of speech, reduced drive, social withdrawal, chronic collapse | Marked slowing, sleeping most of day, drooling, slurred speech, reduced initiation after medication change | Progressive slowing, poor initiative, reduced self-care, apathy in older adults | Immobility, mutism, blankness, collapse during overwhelming fear/shame/conflict/trauma cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What argues against | Applies to the whole presentationReview locally. | ||||||
| Must-not-miss | Malignant catatonia, dehydration, DVT/PE, aspiration, rhabdomyolysis, autonomic instability | Very high suicide risk, catatonia overlap, severe dehydration/weight loss | Sepsis, hypoxia, retention, constipation, aspiration, medication toxicity | ||||
| Bedside question | Applies to the whole presentationMotor syndrome with characteristic catatonic signs. Not simply very depressed or non-engaging. | ||||||
| Immediate action | Applies to the whole presentationThe medication chart is often the shortest route to the diagnosis Quiet delirium is commonly missed and often medically dangerous | ||||||
| Investigations | Applies to the whole presentationGuided by presentation. | ||||||
| Mimics / overlap | Applies to the whole presentationReview overlap locally. | ||||||
Scroll horizontally to review more candidate differentials. Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
Review locally.
Motor syndrome with characteristic catatonic signs. Not simply very depressed or non-engaging.
The medication chart is often the shortest route to the diagnosis Quiet delirium is commonly missed and often medically dangerous
Guided by presentation.
Review overlap locally.
Mutism, staring, posturing, negativism, withdrawal, immobility, poor intake
Malignant catatonia, dehydration, DVT/PE, aspiration, rhabdomyolysis, autonomic instability
Profound slowing, poverty of speech, guilt, nihilism, early waking, food refusal
Very high suicide risk, catatonia overlap
New quiet withdrawal, drowsiness, slowed responses, poor intake after acute illness/surgery/medication change
Sepsis, hypoxia,
Avolition, blunted affect, poverty of speech, reduced drive, social withdrawal, chronic collapse
Hidden depression, untreated psychosis
Based on current selection
Safety first. Act early.
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
Open a selected differential to review its clinical record.
Based on current selection
Safety first. Act early.
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
| Respiratory depression, aspiration, falls, delirium, lithium toxicity, anticholinergic burden |
| Superimposed delirium, aspiration, falls, abuse/neglect, unsafe living |
| Severe self-harm, unsafe absconding, hidden trauma, child-safety impairment |