Purposeless, excessive motor activity with no obvious cause is called which term?

• A. Mutism
• B. Stupor
• C. Catatonic excitement
• D. Negative Symptoms

Answer: (C)

Purposeless, excessive motor activity with no obvious cause is described as catatonic excitement. This term captures a hyperkinetic phase of catatonia where a person displays unstructured, purposeless movements and agitation that aren’t driven by a clear goal. It’s a contrast to stupor, where movement and speech are markedly reduced or absent, and to mutism, which specifically refers to lack of speech. Negative symptoms, by contrast, involve reduced normal functions such as motivation, speech output, and facial expression, not an increase in motor activity. Catatonic excitement can appear in conditions like schizophrenia or mood disorders and may require evaluation for underlying medical or psychiatric causes and appropriate treatment.