Torpor

TORPOR, torpor, or sopor, is a deep depression of consciousness observed in many severe diseases at the height of the pathological process. The torpid state is close to the comatose state, differing from the latter in that during it the possibility of mental activity, although to a very slight degree, is preserved: patients lie either motionless or perform only automatic reflex movements, showing no signs of consciousness, displaying no initiative and not reacting to their surroundings, but through strong stimuli (shaking, noise, bright light) they can be brought out of such a state for a short time and give some mental reaction (opening eyes with direction toward the irritating object, some movement, a brief answer to a question), after which they return to their previous state. Even in moments of such relative mental clarity, the mental activity has the character of extreme vagueness and automatism: often the entire reaction consists of a brief awakening of attention without a return of the ability to understand what is happening. The etiology, diagnostic significance, and treatment of T. are the same as for coma (see). Particularly typical torpid states develop with a significant increase in intracranial pressure (hydrocephalus, brain tumors, etc.).