THE INDIVIDUAL IN CATATHYMIC CRISIS ACQUIRES THE IDEA THAT A VIOLENT ACT MUST BE CARRIED THROUGH, DEVELOPS A PLAN TO COMMIT THE ACT, AND FEELS A STRONG URGE TO PUT THE PLAN INTO ACTION. USUALLY THE ACT IS SYMBOLIC, AND THE INDIVIDUAL'S THINKING IS DELUSIONAL, RIGID, AND DEVOID OF LOGIC. THE CATATHYMIC CRISIS IS A PATHOLOGICAL CONDITION WITH A BEGINNING AND A COURSE. ITS STAGES ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) THE INITIAL THINKING DISORDER, WHICH FOLLOWS A PRECIPITATING OR TRAUMATIC CIRCUMSTANCE; (2) CRYSTALLIZATION OF A PLAN, WHEN THE IDEA OF VIOLENCE FIRST EMERGES, EMOTIONAL TENSION BECOMES EXTREME, AND THINKING BECOMES INCREASINGLY EGOCENTRIC; (3) EXTREME EMOTIONAL TENSION CULMINATING IN THE VIOLENT ACT, AGAINST THE SELF OR OTHERS; (4) SUPERFICIAL NORMALITY, BEGINNING WITH A LIFTING OF TENSION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VIOLENT ACT AND VARYING IN DURATION (USUALLY SEVERAL MONTHS); AND (5) INSIGHT AND RECOVERY, WITH REESTABLISHMENT OF INNER EQUILIBRIUM. IF THE FINAL STAGE IS NOT REACHED, ANOTHER VIOLENT ACT MAY BE COMMITTED. THIS IS NOT A RECURRENCE BUT A CONTINUATION OF THE SAME PROCESS. DIAGNOSIS OF THE CATATHYMIC CRISIS AS A CLINICAL EXAMPLE OF A CATATHYMIC CRISIS THAT PRODUCED MULTIPLE VIOLENT ACTS IS PRESENTED. (LKM)