Dystonia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Dystonia is a common neurological syndrome characterised by sustained muscle contractions that produce repetitive movements or abnormal postures. This disorder may be inherited or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning or reaction to drugs, particularly neuroleptics. Although the pathophysiology of dystonia is not fully understood, accumulating evidence suggests that dystonias can result due to the dysfunction of the basal ganglia circuits; this notion is supported by lesion, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological data obtained from patients with dystonia. Furthermore, the management of dystonia consists of oral medication, chemodenervation, surgical approaches, limb immobilisation and orthosis, or physical therapy. Multiple strategies are usually necessary. This book gathers the latest research from around the world in the study of dystonia and highlights topics such as drug-induced acute dystonia, time course of the effects of botulinum neurotoxin, diagnosis and treatment strategies for antipsychotics-induced dystonia, impaired sensorimotor integration in focal dystonia and deep brain stimulation in adult and paediatric dystonia.
Contents

Preface
Striosome-Matrix Pathology of Dystonias: A New Hypothesis for Dystonia Genesis
Drug Induced Acute Dystonia
Deep Brain Stimulation in Secondary Dystonia: Current Trends &
a Review of the Literature
From the Oscillation Rate &
"Noisy Signal"
Hypothesis to a Unified Dystonia Pathophysiology Model: Current Concepts on the Mechanisms of Dystonia &
the Beneficial Effects of DBS
Time Course of the Effects of Botulinum Neurotoxin
Impaired Sensorimotor Integration in Focal Dystonia: The Role of the Cerebral Cortex
Diagnosis, Clinical Assessment &
Treatment Strategies for Antipsychotics-Induced Dystonia in Japan
Dystonia: Causes, Symptoms &
Treatment
Dyschromatosis Symmetrica Hereditaria Associated with Neurological Disorders
Dystonia: A Disorder of Striosomal Function?
Index.