[The catatonic dilemma].

In discussing some clinical cases the paper suggests an interpretation of catatonic syndrome based on the original and main characteristics of this psychopathological condition. Kahlbaum described this disease underlining the "affective" symptoms, but since then, catatonia has been considered a schizophrenic syndrome. The paper proposes a definition of catatonia based on Kahlbaum's earlier view in which the complex of psychomotor disturbances can be seen as the expression of schizophrenia, bipolar psychoses or of a specific cyclic disease.