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Published on: December 13, 2017

A childhood case of symptomatic essential and psychogenic palatal tremor

Francesco Margari1, Giustina Giannella, Paola Alessandra Lecce

  • 1Psychiatry Unit;

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|May 17, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Palatal tremor, a rare disorder of rhythmic soft palate contractions, can be symptomatic, essential, or psychogenic. This case suggests a continuum between these forms in a 12-year-old boy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Movement Disorders

Background:

  • Palatal tremor involves rhythmic soft palate contractions, often secondary to brainstem or cerebellar disease.
  • It can also be essential (without brain lesions) or psychogenic (linked to psychological disorders).

Observation:

  • A 12-year-old boy presented with palatal tremor exhibiting features of symptomatic, essential, and psychogenic types.

Findings:

  • The case highlights overlapping clinical features across different palatal tremor classifications.
  • This suggests a potential neuropsychopathological link between symptomatic, essential, and psychogenic palatal tremor.

Implications:

  • Understanding this continuum may refine diagnostic approaches for palatal tremor.
  • Further research into the underlying mechanisms of palatal tremor is warranted.

Keywords:
child movement disorderspalatal tremorpsychogenic movements

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