HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ameli, R. Articles by Dalakas, M. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ameli, R. Articles by Dalakas, M. C. Related Collections All Neuropsychology/Behavior All Psychiatric disorders Stiff person syndrome

A neuropsychological assessment of phobias in patients with stiff person syndrome

From the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program (Drs. Ameli and Snow), National Institute of Mental Health, and Neuromuscular Diseases Section (Drs. Rakocevic and Dalakas), National Institute of Neurological and Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD.

A neuropsychological assessment was performed in 10 patients with stiff person syndrome (SPS) to determine whether their anxiety and phobic symptoms precede stiffness and spasms or represent a reaction to disability. No neurocognitive dysfunction was noted. Patients perceived fears and anxiety as realistic and caused by SPS rather than due to an inherent phobic neurosis.

Received October 29, 2004. Accepted in final form March 1, 2005.

Address correspondence and reprint request to Dr. M.C. Dalakas, Neuromuscular Diseases Section, NINDS, 10 Center Dr., Bldg. 10, Rm. 4N248, MSC 1382, Bethesda, MD 20892; e-mail: dalakasm{at}ninds.nih.gov