Psychogenic Movement Disorders: Gait Is a Give‐Away

• Published in: Movement disorders clinical practice (Hoboken, N.J.) N.J.), 2014-06, Vol.1 (2), p.110-111
• Main Authors: Balint, Bettina, Winsen, Lisa M.L., Bhatia, Kailash P., Bloem, Bas R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: assessment; Case Series; differential diagnosis; gait; psychogenic movement disorders
• ISSN: 2330-1619; 2330-1619
• DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12031

The aim of this article is to point out that an incongruity of gait disorder (either in relation to the presenting movement disorder or incongruity with any type of organic gait disorder) is a useful clue in diagnosing psychogenic movement disorders. To illustrate this, we present a case series of patients with various types of psychogenic movement disorders (rest tremor, myoclonus, dystonia, and chorea). Incongruity of the walking pattern with the presenting movement disorder was a revealing diagnostic clue in all cases. “Incongruity” is currently a main plank in the diagnosis of psychogenic conditions. Our series emphasizes that incongruity of the gait pattern may be the most important sign in a patient where it is otherwise difficult to establish whether the movement disorder is congruous or incongruous with an organic disorder.