Catatonic schizophrenia

This diagnosis code signifies a severe mental disorder characterized by prominent psychomotor disturbances, which can range from immobility and stupor to excessive, purposeless motor activity. Patients may exhibit negativism, mutism, posturing, or echolalia/echopraxia, alongside other schizophrenic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of schizophrenia with a predominant catatonic presentation. This includes cases where the patient displays significant motor abnormalities such as catalepsy, waxy flexibility, stupor, agitation, or stereotypies, in the context of a schizophrenic disorder. Ensure the physician's notes explicitly link the catatonic features to schizophrenia.

• Differentiate carefully from catatonic stupor (R40.1), which is a symptom and not a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• Ensure documentation specifies "schizophrenia" in conjunction with catatonic features; otherwise, consider other catatonia codes.
• Avoid using this code if the catatonic features are due to a medical condition or substance use.