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WAVING, TWIRLING, BANGING
STEREOTYPIC MOVEMENT DISORDER
Topics in Mental Health
By Shlomo Y. Radcliffe
What is Stereotypic Movement Disorder?
Stereotypic movement disorder is a childhood disorder in which a youngster repeatedly engages in non-functional movement like
shaking his hands in the air, waving (to no one), banging his head against a surface or hitting himself. It occurs most often in
children with disorders of the brain or nervous system, particularly in
children with mental retardation. The symptoms are worse when the child is
stressed or bored.
Symptoms of Stereotypic Movement Disorder (DSM-IV Criteria)
In order to diagnose a child with stereotypic movement
disorder the child must have the following symptoms:
- This
behaviour seriously interferes with normal activities or causes physical
injury serious enough to warrant medical treatment.
- The
behaviour is not better explained by a compulsion such as
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a tic disorder, hair pulling (as in
Trichotillomania) or a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).
- The
behaviour has persisted for 4 or more weeks.
- If
the person also has mental retardation the behaviour is serious enough to
be a focus of treatment.
- The
behaviour is not directly caused by any general medical condition or by
the effects of substance use.
Treating
Stereotypic Movement Disorder
The most common approach to treating stereotypic
movement disorder is to employ therapies that reduce stress that is thought to trigger
the symptoms. Increasing structure and reducing frustration may lesson
symptoms, but parents may also investigate alternative treatments that reduce
overall tension. Medical treatment can be helpful, including the use of
antidepressant medication. General relaxation training is also beneficial.
Treating and preventing injuries (through modification of the environment) caused
by stereotypic movement disorder is obviously importa
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