Adult-onset stereotypical motor behaviors

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2016 Aug-Sep;172(8-9):477-482. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2016.07.002. Epub 2016 Aug 3.

Abstract

Stereotypies have been defined as non-goal-directed movement patterns repeated continuously for a period of time in the same form and on multiple occasions, and which are typically distractible. Stereotypical motor behaviors are a common clinical feature of a variety of neurological conditions that affect cortical and subcortical functions, including autism, tardive dyskinesia, excessive dopaminergic treatment of Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia. The main differential diagnosis of stereotypies includes tic disorders, motor mannerisms, compulsion and habit. The pathophysiology of stereotypies may involve the corticostriatal pathways, especially the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulated cortices. Because antipsychotics have long been used to manage stereotypical behaviours in mental retardation, stereotypies that present in isolation tend not to warrant pharmacological intervention, as the benefit-to-risk ratio is not great enough.

Keywords: Adult; Adulte; Dyskinésie tardive; Démence frontotemporale; Frontotemporal dementia; Stereotypy; Stéréotypie; Tardive dyskinesia; Traitement; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Compulsive Behavior / diagnosis
  • Compulsive Behavior / etiology
  • Compulsive Behavior / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / diagnosis
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / etiology
  • Frontotemporal Dementia / therapy
  • Humans
  • Stereotyped Behavior / physiology
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder* / epidemiology
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder* / etiology
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder* / therapy
  • Tardive Dyskinesia / diagnosis
  • Tardive Dyskinesia / etiology
  • Tardive Dyskinesia / therapy