[Psychomotor disadaptation syndrome: a poorly known clinical entity]

Psychomotor disadaptation syndrome is a typical geriatric clinical syndrome. It includes postural disorders such as body retropulsion, specific gait disorders, with axial akinesia and hypertonia, and psychobehavioral disorders akin to those found in depression. The diagnosis is essentially based on clinical observation rather than on iconographic data. This syndrome causes falls which induce a fear of falling. The old patient has a tendency to put himself down, to withdraw from society and to lose autonomy. This article briefly describes the physiopathology of the syndrome, recalls the diagnostic tools, and makes some suggestions regarding the care of patients suffering from this clinical entity.