[Movement disorders of functional origin (psychogenic) in children]

Sixteen cases of functional (psychogenic) pediatric movement disorders (PMD) have been analyzed. They represents 2.4% of a PMD personal series (age of onset less than 18).

Apart from a case, age of onset was older than 10 years. 81% (13/16 cases) were females. Tremor (68%) was the predominant abnormal movement followed by mioclonus. These facts are according with the scarce studies reported of functional PMD. We emphasize the diagnostic difficulties of this kind of conditions.

Diagnostic clues are age of onset older than 10 years, female gender, clinical inconsistency of the movement, increasing or decreasing of the movements with attention to the movements or distraction, normality of the exams including neurophysiological studies. However in some cases a follow-up is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.