Psychogenic movement disorders (PMDs) are rarely reported in childhood and their clinical manifestations may be different from those of adults11 . Ferrara J, Jankovic J. Psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2008;23:1875-1881.,22 . Canavese C, Ciano C, Zibordi F, Zorzi G, Cavallera V, Nardocci N. Phenomenology of psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2012;27:1153-1157.,33 . Tan EK. Psychogenic tics: diagnostic value of the placebo test. J Child Neurol 2004;19:976-977.. A diagnosis of PMDs was made in a 12-year-old girl who presented dropped head, involuntary limb movements and gait disorder (Figure A). We performed a placebo test, which resulted in marked and complete improvement of symptoms within three days (Figure B). Psychogenic dropped head, especially associated with other movement disorders, has not yet been reported in children22 . Canavese C, Ciano C, Zibordi F, Zorzi G, Cavallera V, Nardocci N. Phenomenology of psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2012;27:1153-1157.,44 . Lempert T, Dieterich M, Huppert D, Brandt T. Psychogenic disorders in neurology: Frequency and clinical spectrum. Acta Neurol Scand 1990;82:335-340.. Although assessment of PMDs can be complex in childhood, our case showed that assessment of clinical features combined with therapeutic intervention (placebo test) may be useful for PMDs diagnosis11 . Ferrara J, Jankovic J. Psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2008;23:1875-1881.,33 . Tan EK. Psychogenic tics: diagnostic value of the placebo test. J Child Neurol 2004;19:976-977.,55 . Faust J, Soman TB. Psychogenic movement disorders in children: characteristics and predictors of outcome. J Child Neurol 2012;27:610-614..
References
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1Ferrara J, Jankovic J. Psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2008;23:1875-1881.
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2Canavese C, Ciano C, Zibordi F, Zorzi G, Cavallera V, Nardocci N. Phenomenology of psychogenic movement disorders in children. Mov Disord 2012;27:1153-1157.
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3Tan EK. Psychogenic tics: diagnostic value of the placebo test. J Child Neurol 2004;19:976-977.
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4Lempert T, Dieterich M, Huppert D, Brandt T. Psychogenic disorders in neurology: Frequency and clinical spectrum. Acta Neurol Scand 1990;82:335-340.
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5Faust J, Soman TB. Psychogenic movement disorders in children: characteristics and predictors of outcome. J Child Neurol 2012;27:610-614.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Sept 2014
History
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Received
29 Jan 2014 -
Reviewed
21 May 2014 -
Accepted
09 June 2014