Protocol Number: 03-N-0089

Title:

Survey of Sensory and Motor Tricks in Focal Dystonia

Number:

03-N-0089

Summary:

This study will collect information on (tricks) patients with focal dystonia use to relieve their symptoms. Dystonia is a movement disorder caused by sustained muscle contractions often causing twisting and abnormal posturing. Dystonia may be generalized, affecting at least one leg and the trunk of the body, segmental, affecting adjacent body parts, or focal, affecting a single body part, such as the hand or eyelid. It may be task-specific, such as writer's, musician's or sportsman's cramps. Some patients with focal dystonia use (tricks), such as touching the face or hand, to stop or alleviate the abnormal movement. This study will survey the types of tricks people with focal dystonia use in order to learn more about the disorder.

Patients 18 years of age and older with focal dystonia may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened for eligibility with a medical history, clinical evaluation, and review of their medical records.

In one 30- to 45-minute clinic visit, participants will be interviewed about their dystonia symptoms and the tricks they use to relieve the symptoms. They may be asked to show the investigators how the tricks work

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients with focal dystonia diagnosed by review of medical record, history, and clinical evaluation.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Any individual without focal dystonia.

Any individual who is unable to provide accurate history, or is critically ill.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Geste Antagoniste

TMS

Sensorimotor Integration

Writer's Cramp

Sensory Input

Recruitment Keywords:

Focal Dystonia

Writer's Cramp

Conditions:

Dystonic Disorder

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:

Bara-Jimenez W, Shelton P, Sanger TD, Hallett M. Sensory discrimination capabilities in patients with focal hand dystonia. Ann Neurol. 2000 Mar;47(3):377-80.

Berardelli A, Rothwell JC, Hallett M, Thompson PD, Manfredi M, Marsden CD. The pathophysiology of primary dystonia.

Brain. 1998 Jul;121 ( Pt 7):1195-212. Review.

Kaji R, Rothwell JC, Katayama M, Ikeda T, Kubori T, Kohara N, Mezaki T, Shibasaki H, Kimura J. Tonic vibration reflex and muscle afferent block in writer's cramp. Ann Neurol. 1995 Aug;38(2):155-62.

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