The clinical features of psychogenic movement disorders resembling tics

Abstract

Movements resembling tics are observed in a small proportion of patients with PMDs. Clinical features can help to differentiate them from organic tics.

Cranial functional (psychogenic) movement disorders

“…In a series of nine patients with functional/psychogenic tics eight of the patients had hyperkinetic facial movements. The authors of this paper suggest several clinical features can help differentiate functional from organic tics 39 ;…”

Functional movement disorders

“…Tics are usually experienced as intentional movements performed in order to relieve inner tension, whereas functional tics are perceived as involuntary [51,52]. Premonitory sensation is considered a hallmark feature of organic tics, and it is reported in about 90% of patient (although also reported in patients with presumed functional tics) [39,52], but larger studies are needed [49,51] to have definite views on this issue. (Table 1) …”

“…Hints for their diagnosis are: adult onset, no premonitory sensations, no tics in childhood, negative family history, inability to suppress movements (patients with tics can usually suppress their tics for short periods), and coexistence with other FNDs [49,51]. Tics are usually experienced as intentional movements performed in order to relieve inner tension, whereas functional tics are perceived as involuntary [51,52].…”

“…Hints for their diagnosis are: adult onset, no premonitory sensations, no tics in childhood, negative family history, inability to suppress movements (patients with tics can usually suppress their tics for short periods), and coexistence with other FNDs [49,51]. Tics are usually experienced as intentional movements performed in order to relieve inner tension, whereas functional tics are perceived as involuntary [51,52]. Premonitory sensation is considered a hallmark feature of organic tics, and it is reported in about 90% of patient (although also reported in patients with presumed functional tics) [39,52], but larger studies are needed [49,51] to have definite views on this issue.…”

Functional Movement Disorders: Updated Overview

“…Tics: These are trickier as tics are often triggered by emotional or psychological stress [54]. Tics in the setting of a psychogenic illness have a sudden dramatic onset of jerking movements usually involving one or both arms, head, and neck [55,56].…”