1. a breakdown in the ability to cope with a threatening or traumatic situation. The individual experiences acute feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, frustration, and helplessness.

2. highly emotional behavior (extreme anxiety, sudden crying, aggressive or hostile behavior, etc.) sometimes observed in individuals who have brain damage, including those with aphasia. The origin of this behavior remains unclear, although U.S. neurologist D. Frank Benson (1928–1996) ascribed such reactions to individuals’ frustration, embarrassment, or agitation at their struggle to communicate or perform tasks they had previously performed with ease. Also called catastrophic behavior. [first described by Kurt Goldstein]