[Idiopathic writing cramp as a psychosomatic disease. A qualitative analysis of three case reports]

In recent publications writer's cramp is mostly seen as a "focal dystonia", which denotes a group of organic-degenerative disorders of the basal ganglia. In opposite to this view psychoanalysts have pointed out since many years the psychogenesis of the syndrome. Our investigation starts with the descriptive analysis of three own cases. It will be shown how clinical facts present a complex situation, which allows the hypothesis, that somatic and psychogenetic factors coincide in the pathogenesis of occupational cramps. Finally a proposition is made how empirical evaluation of the hypothesis is possible.