Dystonia With Secondary Contractures: A Psychogenic Movement Disorder Mimicking Its Neurological Counterpart
- 1 November 2008
- journal article
- case report
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Child Neurology
- Vol. 23 (11), 1316-1318
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073808318060
Abstract
We report the case of an 11-year-old girl presenting with a 1.5-year history of swan neck-like deformed joint contractures of both hands. A possible diagnosis was sought in a wide range of rheumatological, metabolic, and neurological disorders. After detailed diagnostic procedures to exclude an organic pathology, steps were taken to establish a psychogenic origin. She showed symptoms that were incongruent with an organic neurological disorder, for example, a paroxysmal fluctuating course, reaction to placebo, and complete remission with psychotherapy and physiotherapy. The psychosomatic evaluation revealed a highly emotional conflict. This bizarre case demonstrates that secondary contractures are by no means an exclusion criterion for a psychogenic dystonia.Keywords
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