Abulia

What it means

Abulia is characterized by difficulty in initiating and sustaining spontaneous movements; the person often appears frozen but will move hesitantly on request. There are frequently substantial reductions in emotional responsiveness, spontaneous speech, and social interaction. The individual appears to be content to remain still and inactive with minimal movement, but moves or reacts hesitantly in response to interactions.

Abulia is less severe than kinetic mutism and more severe than apathy.

Rare diseases that can present with this3

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Aboulia