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Related Experiment Videos

Psychogenic hemifacial spasm.

E K Tan1, J Jankovic

  • 1Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|August 22, 2001
PubMed
Summary
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Psychogenic facial spasms are rare, affecting 2.4% of patients evaluated for hemifacial spasm (HFS). These spasms can mimic neurological conditions and may indicate underlying depression.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Facial spasms often result from conditions like hemifacial spasm (HFS), but psychogenic causes are less understood.
  • This study aimed to identify psychogenic facial spasms in patients referred for HFS evaluation and highlight their characteristics.

Observation:

  • Five out of 210 patients (2.4%) referred for hemifacial spasm evaluation were diagnosed with psychogenic facial spasms.
  • All diagnosed patients were female, with a mean age of 34.6 years and symptom duration averaging 1.1 years.

Findings:

  • Psychogenic facial spasms can present as the primary or sole symptom of a movement disorder.
  • These spasms may be misdiagnosed due to similarities with neurological conditions like HFS.

Implications:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Recognizing psychogenic facial spasms is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
  • Facial spasms, even when mimicking HFS, may signal an underlying psychogenic movement disorder, often linked to depression.