Abnormal tactile temporal discrimination in psychogenic dystonia
Abstract
Objective:
Neurophysiologic studies demonstrated that patients with primary torsion dystonia (PTD) and with psychogenic dystonia (Psy-D) share similar abnormalities in the motor system. In this study, we evaluated somatosensory function in Psy-D by testing temporal discrimination threshold (TDT), and compared the results with those obtained in patients with PTD.
Methods:
TDT of tactile stimuli was assessed in 10 patients with Psy-D, 10 patients with PTD, and 16 control subjects. The 2 groups of patients were matched for age, gender, disease duration, and distribution of dystonia. Tactile stimuli consisted of pairs of non-noxious electrical shocks delivered to the right or left hand at interstimulus interval increasing from 0 to 400 msec, in 10-msec steps. TDT was defined as the value at which subjects recognized the 2 stimuli as asynchronous.
Results:
TDT was higher in Psy-D and PTD compared to control subjects, for both the right and the left hand. In a subgroup of patients with unilateral dystonia (Psy-D = 4, PTD = 5), TDT did not differ between the affected and the unaffected side in both groups of patients. Disease duration was not correlated to the increased TDT value.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests an impaired processing of somatosensory inputs in both Psy-D and PTD. These abnormalities might represent a neurophysiological trait predisposing to develop a dystonic posture triggered by psychiatric and psychological factors.
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Information & Authors
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Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Publication History
Received: February 5, 2011
Accepted: May 25, 2011
Published online: September 7, 2011
Published in print: September 20, 2011
Disclosure
Dr. Morgante received research support from Fondazione Neureca Onlus. Dr. Tinazzi, Dr. Squintani, Dr. Martino, Dr. Defazio, and Dr. Romito report no disclosures. Prof. Albanese has served on scientific advisory boards for and received honoraria from Lundbeck Inc., UCB, and Allergan, Inc.; serves as an Associate Editor for the European Journal of Neurology and Therapeutic Advances in Neurology and as Editor for Frontiers in Movement Disorders; receives publishing royalties for Botulinum Toxin: Clinical Practice and Science (Saunders Elsevier, 2009); and received research support from the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Ministry of Research, and Catholic University. Dr. Di Matteo, Dr. Quartarone, and Dr. Girlanda, and Dr. Fiorio report no disclosures. Prof. Berardelli received speaker honoraria from Allergan, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Lundbeck Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim; and serves on the editorial advisory board of the European Journal of Neurology.
Authors
Author Contributions
Dr. Morgante: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, acquisition of data, statistical analysis, study supervision. Dr. Tinazzi: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, acquisition of data, statistical analysis, study supervision. Dr. Squintani: analysis or interpretation of data, acquisition of data. Dr. Martino: drafting/revising the manuscript, acquisition of data. Dr. Defazio: drafting/revising the manuscript, acquisition of data. Dr. Romito: drafting/revising the manuscript, contribution of vital reagents/tools/patients, acquisition of data. Prof. Albanese: analysis or interpretation of data, acquisition of data, study supervision. Dr. Di Matteo: drafting/revising the manuscript, acquisition of data. Dr. Quartarone: drafting/revising the manuscript, analysis or interpretation of data, study supervision. Dr. Girlanda: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data. Dr. Fiorio: drafting/revising the manuscript. Prof. Berardelli: drafting/revising the manuscript, study concept or design, analysis or interpretation of data, study supervision.
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