Survey of Sensory and Motor Tricks in Focal Dystonia

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

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to collect and organize information concerning a phenomenon known as 'sensory tricks' or Geste antagoniste in focal dystonia. Sensory tricks, which we will refer to as 'tricks' since some involve motor as well as sensory input, are various stimuli used by dystonic patients to transiently diminish their spasms (Jankovic and Fahn 1993). The phenomenon of tricks is evidence for the abnormality of sensorimotor integration in focal dystonia, yet it is little studied or understood. A survey of the history and characteristics of tricks will lead to a better understanding of this puzzling phenomenon, and a step toward the understanding of the mechanism of focal dystonia.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment

80

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2003

Study Completion

February 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 5, 2003

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2003

First Posted (Estimate)

February 6, 2003

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 4, 2008

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 3, 2008

Last Verified

February 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 030089
  • 03-N-0089

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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