This review summarises the knowledge of catatonia, which is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with altered psychomotor and behavioural symptoms as well as autonomic dysfunction seen in a variety of psychiatric, neurologic and medical conditions. However, catatonia frequently remains unrecognised by clinicians. The classification of catatonia differs significantly in the international classifications, reflecting the controversy regarding the concept of catatonia and its complex symptomatology. Different rating scales are developed to diagnose catatonia in clinical practice. First-choice treatment is benzodiazepines and ECT regardless of underlying condition.