Preparation for Child Psych PRITE and Boards
Introduction
The diagnosis of movement disorders requires careful characterization of the movements.
Definitions
Term | Description |
Tics | Sudden rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic movement. Tics can be motor or vocal tics |
Dystonia | Involuntary muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures |
Chorea | Involuntary, random, quick, jerking movements, usually in the proximal extremities. Can progress from from joint to joint. Movements are abrupt, nonrepetitive, and arrhythmic (variable frequency and intensity) |
Stereotypies | Rhythmic, repetitive movements or patterns of speech that aree stereotyped (lack variation over time) |
Compulsions | Repetitive, excessive, meaningless activity including mental activity such as counting, performed to avoid distress |
Myoclonus | Shock-like involuntary muscle jerks; these may be repetetive. examples include hiccups, hypnic jerks, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy |
Akathisia | Dysphoric sensation of restlessness which may be alleviated by movement |
Table adopted from Murphy et.al. JAACAP 2013;52(12) |
References
1. Murphy TK, et. al. Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Tic Disorders JAACAP 2013;52(12):1341–1359