What Is Psychomotor Retardation?
Psychomotor retardation, sometimes called psychomotor impairment, is the slowing down or hampering of your mental or physical activities. This usually takes the form of slower thinking or body movements.
It's not an illness itself but can be a symptom of major depression or bipolar disorder. In fact, it's one of the few symptoms of those conditions that others can actually see.
The word "psychomotor" refers to physical actions that are the result of mental activity. Psychomotor retardation can affect your thought processes, body movements, eye movements, and facial expressions.
Psychomotor retardation was discovered more than a century ago. Some potential causes have been identified since then. Doctors have several methods they use to diagnose it. But we need more research to understand how it works.
Psychomotor Retardation vs. Psychomotor Agitation
While psychomotor retardation slows down your movement, psychomotor agitation raises it.
When you have psychomotor agitation, you're restless and keep making repetitive movements, such as pacing, fidgeting, or wringing your hands. You also feel tense and agitated. Some people injure themselves with this excessive movement, such as by chewing the insides of their cheeks or picking at the skin around their fingernails.
Like psychomotor retardation, it can be a symptom of major depression, bipolar disorder, or substance use.
Psychomotor Retardation Causes
Scientists are still researching the causes of psychomotor retardation. But here are some things they've learned so far:
Biological causes. Changes in how the basal ganglia of your brain works can cause psychomotor retardation. (Basal ganglia are brain structures that help control muscle movements.) Studies have shown links between psychomotor retardation and lowered blood flow in certain parts of the brain.
Research also suggests there's a connection between psychomotor changes and faulty dopamine neurotransmission in people with major depression. Dopamine neurotransmission is the process by which the brain chemical dopamine passes messages between nerve cells.
Other research has shown a link between psychomotor retardation and over-activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. This system of glands produces cortisol, the hormone your body releases to deal with stress.
Health conditions. Depressive episodes in people with major depression or bipolar depression can cause psychomotor retardation. It's also been linked to other brain conditions, including schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). You may be more prone to psychomotor retardation when you have hormone changes related to your menstrual cycle (called premenstrual exacerbation). Other conditions that can cause or worsen it include:
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dementia
- Hydrocephalus (a buildup of spinal fluid in the brain)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Certain hereditary conditions such as Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome
- Thyroid conditions
- Parkinson's disease
- Huntington's disease
Aging. Sometimes, psychomotor retardation is caused by aging. Some slowing of mental and psychical activities is normal as you age. But with psychomotor retardation, this slowing down is more serious.
Drugs. Some medications, illicit drugs, and other substances can cause symptoms of psychomotor retardation, including:
- Antipsychotic medications
- Certain antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and other medications used to treat mental health conditions
- Alcohol
- Cannabis (weed)
- Sedatives
- Opioids
Psychomotor Retardation Symptoms
When you have psychomotor retardation, you may:
- Slump or have bad posture
- Speak slowly, monotonously, and in a low tone of voice
- Walk slowly or shuffle
- Have a fixed facial expression
- Seem emotionless
- Look down or avoid eye contact
- Hold your torso and arms still
- Have problems with memory and attention
- Seem to have little energy
- Be slower to react
- Have trouble doing daily tasks, especially those that are complicated or require precise movements, like tying your shoes
People who have it say it feels something like moving through molasses. They say it takes lots of energy to speak or make eye contact. It feels exhausting to do the things you usually do.
Psychomotor retardation examples
When you speak with someone who has it, for example, you may notice that they speak slowly and pause often between words or sentences.It may be hard for you to understand them because they speak quietly, with few changes in voice pitch or speed. They don't look at you often, have little reaction to what you say, and may have trouble following the thread of the conversation.
Psychomotor Retardation Diagnosis
A doctor or other mental health professional can diagnose psychomotor retardation by carefully observing your speech patterns, facial expressions, eye movements, posture, and body movements. Certain tools, tests, and rating scales are often used to measure the symptoms.
The doctor will look for:
- Slumped posture
- Raised self-touching behaviors, especially around your face
- Slow movements of your legs, hands, head, and torso
Psychomotor retardation symptoms are often more obvious during the morning hours, so it may be easier to diagnose it early in the day.
Psychomotor Retardation Treatment
Treatment of psychomotor retardation depends on what caused it. If it's a symptom of a thyroid disorder, for example, your doctor can prescribe medication for that condition.
Your doctor may also review your medications to see if any of them might be causing your motor symptoms.
When psychomotor impairment is due to a depressive episode, treatment might include:
Medication. Your doctor may start you on a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They may also consider atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) at a later stage in the treatment. The right medication for you will depend on your health history and whether you have other conditions.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In ECT, small electric currents are passed through to your brain while you're under general anesthesia. ECT can be an option if you don't respond to antidepressants or show signs of psychosis or being suicidal.
In psychosis, you lose touch with reality because of the way your brain processes information. ECT is also an option if you have catatonia, a group of symptoms in which you may stop moving and speaking.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The FDA has approved this treatment to treat major depressive disorder. With rTMS, magnetic pulses are sent repeatedly to the nerve cells in the brain. There isn't much research on rTMS yet, but the treatment does help reduce psychomotor retardation symptoms in some cases.
Psychotherapy. There's little scientific evidence on whether psychotherapy can ease symptoms of psychomotor retardation. But it's known to be effective for types of depression, especially when combined with other treatments.
Rehabilitation therapies. For some types of psychomotor impairment, rehabilitative therapies can help. Physical therapy can improve movement and coordination, while occupational therapy allows you to you more easily do your daily activities. If you're having difficulty speaking, speech therapy can help.
Living With Psychomotor Retardation
Adjustments to your lifestyle can help you function better when you have psychomotor retardation. Here are some things to try:
Move your body. It may feel like the last thing you want to do, but exercise will give you an energy boost. Something as simple as a walk around the block can help.
Create a daily schedule. Jot it down in a notebook or add it to your phone calendar. Keep it simple; you may only be able to complete two to three tasks in a day. If your energy levels vary during the day, plan around them. Routine and structure help you overcome sluggishness and give you a sense of purpose.
Break projects down into smaller parts. Divide tasks that seem overwhelming into smaller, more doable steps. Complete them as your energy levels allow. This makes the project feel more manageable and lets you keep moving forward.
Prioritize. It takes longer to get things done when you have psychomotor retardation. Think about what matters most to you and tackle those things first.
Ask for help. Give your family members and friends specific tasks to pitch in on, such as shopping for groceries. They can also provide emotional support. But it's OK to ask for space when you need it.
Be gentle with yourself. Daily life is much more difficult when you have psychomotor retardation. Respect your limits and don't push yourself to act "normal."
Takeaways
When you have psychomotor retardation, both your thoughts and your movements slow down. It's a side effect of conditions like major depression and bipolar depression, as well as some physical disorders like stroke. Some drugs can cause it, too. Treatment depends on what caused it and how serious it is but may include medications, ECT, psychotherapy, and rehabilitation therapies.
Psychomotor Retardation FAQs
How to help someone with psychomotor retardation?
The best way to assist someone with psychomotor retardation is to help them get treatment for whatever is causing their symptoms. If they're having trouble doing everyday tasks, you could help with things like meal preparation, child care, and household chores. It may feel exhausting for them to communicate, so be understanding if they don't feel much like interacting.
What is the side effect of psychomotor retardation?
The effects of psychomotor retardation may include:
- A hard time talking
- Trouble completing daily tasks
- Lack of energy
Psychomotor retardation is itself a side effect of some medications, such as certain antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants.
What medication is used to treat psychomotor retardation?
Treatment for psychomotor retardation depends on what's causing it. If it's a symptom of a depressive episode, your doctor might recommend:
- SSRIs
- Atypical antidepressants
- TCAs
- MAOIs
Can psychomotor retardation be cured?
It depends. If medication is causing your psychomotor impairment, stopping the drug should end the symptoms fairly quickly. If a mental health condition has caused it, treatment for that condition will also treat the psychomotor retardation. If it's caused by a long-lasting illness like Parkinson's disease, it may not be completely curable. But there are still ways to manage the symptoms.
How to know if it is psychomotor agitation or retardation?
Psychomotor agitation looks very different from psychomotor retardation. With psychomotor agitation, you're restless and constantly making movements like fidgeting or pacing. But with psychomotor retardation, you move slowly, make few movements with your trunk and arms, and show little emotion.
