[Pisa syndrome]

The Pisa Syndrome is a rare dystonic syndrome, first described by Ekbom et al. 1972 as a side effect of neuroleptic therapy and subsequently by Patel et al. 1991 as a symptom of dementia of the Alzheimer type. It consists of tonic flexion of the trunk to one side, accompanied by a slight rotation. The presentation of three clinical cases, including one without neuroleptic but with thymoleptic medication, is followed by etiological and therapeutical considerations as well as data concerning the prevalence of this rare syndrome. Finally, the question of a possible psychogenesis of this condition is discussed.