Motor Disorders and Related Conditions in Neuropsychiatry

The assessment of patients with neuropsychiatric conditions follows the time-honored principles of general clinical practice and requires considerable expertise, as well as a good deal of patience and persistence. As part of the mental state examination, the motor system must be systematically addressed, alongside other physical signs of neuropsychiatric relevance. Direct observation of the patient's gait and spontaneous movements begins in the outpatient waiting room or-depending on circumstances-the ward corridor, and can be highly illuminating. In many cases, these initial informal observations can play an important role in steering the diagnostic process.