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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2015; 13(04): 208-212
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1559805
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Stereotypies: From Normal to Pathological

Teresa Temudo
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Porto, Portugal
2   Pre-graduate Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
,
Cláudia Melo
3   Department of Pediatric, Centro Hospitalar do Médio Ave, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
4   Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems—CINTESIS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

27 March 2015

28 March 2015

Publication Date:
07 August 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Stereotypies are rhythmic, patterned, repetitive, purposeless, and continuous movements which may be categorized into the following two ways: primary, if they appear in healthy normally developing subjects; or secondary, when they are associated with neurologic problems. They may also be divided into motor, vocal, or visual stereotypies. Biological mechanisms of stereotypies are unknown but they seem to be related to the basal ganglia or the cortical-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits. Stereotypies are frequently found in patients with autistic disorders, intellectual disability, and sensorial deficit disorders. Some neurodevelopmental disorders show specific motor stereotypies, which reinforce the notion of a genetic or neurobiological basis. When necessary, treatment may include behavioral or drug-based approaches.

Keywords

stereotypies - movement disorders - autism
 

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