Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by severe motor and
behavioral disturbances and is frequently associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and affective pathologies. Although adult manifestations of catatonia have been extensively studied, the developmental origins and early predictors of this condition remain poorly understood. Previous work in genetically selected catatonic (GC) rats has identified neonatal abnormalities in motor behavior, monoaminergic neurotransmission, stress hormone regulation, and somatic growth as potential prodromal signs of catatonia. The present study proposes a longitudinal framework aimed at validating these neonatal alterations as predictive biomarkers of adult catatonic phenotypes. By trackingGCand controlWistar rats from early postnatal development through adolescence and adulthood, we seek to establish direct associations between early-life behavioral and neurochemical deviations and the severity, persistence, and expression of catatonic reactions later in life. This longitudinal approach is expected to strengthen the translational relevance of the GC model and provide a developmental basis for early diagnosis and preventive intervention in catatonia-related disorders.
