n. a drastic but impending change in behavior as can only be brought about by shock and catastrophic stress. These are overwhelming reactions to trauma wrought by life-changing events like torture, rape, genocide, or other violent, war-time experiences. First described by German-American psychologist Kurt Goldstein (1878-1965).
CATASTROPHIC BEHAVIOR: “Catastrophic behavior is characterized as extremely-disorganized, to the point of feeling lost and unable to cope.”