Treatment of psychiatric disturbances in common hyperkinetic movement disorders

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This paper reviews studies that have assessed the treatment of psychiatric disturbances in dystonia, tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, Huntington’s disease, and essential tremor.

Areas covered: We searched for papers in English in Pubmed using the following keywords: blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, arm dystonia, laryngeal dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, Huntington’s chorea, essential tremor, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, psychosis, apathy.

Expert commentary: Although psychiatric disturbances are frequent in hyperkinetic movement disorders, few controlled studies have assessed the treatment of psychiatric disturbances in such disorders. In dystonia, none of the controlled studies conducted to date have demonstrated the efficacy of drug treatment for depression or anxiety. In TS, controlled studies have demonstrated the usefulness of drug treatment on obsessive compulsive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Behavioral interventions may also play a role. No controlled studies have been conducted on HD nor have any studies addressed the treatment of psychiatric disturbances in ET. We conclude that there is the need of controlled studies to better evaluate pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disturbances in hyperkinetic movement disorders.

KEYWORDS:

• Dystonia
• Tourette syndrome
• tic
• Huntington disease
• essential tremor
• depression
• anxiety
• obsessive compulsive disorders
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• psychosis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.