Pediatria pre prax 5/2012

Primary stereotypic movements in children

Primary motor stereotypies (PMS) are repetitive rhythmical, apparently purposeless movement patterns which occur in children with normal development. PMS can be divided into three subgroups: a) simple stereotypies (e. g. thumb and fingers sucking, nail-biting, teeth grinding), b) head nodding (rhythmic movement of the head), c) complex motor stereotypies. Complex motor stereotypies can be very diverse (e. g. shaking, waving, hands shaking, fingers and hair twisting, head and entire body swinging, mouth opening), but they are always bound in a typical recurring pattern. Co-morbidity with tics, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive – compulsive disorder (OCD) is frequent. Pathophysiological mechanisms are unknown. Despite the generally benign course and sometimes spontaneous withdrawal, in some cases therapy fails and the prognosis is uncertain.

Keywords: primary motor stereotypies, common and complex stereotypies, tics.