An observational study in Focal Dystonia, sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Completed at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2008-03-04.
Sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Observational
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
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.
319 studies on the registry are indexed under Dystonia; 56 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 80 is above the median of 60 across 126 observational studies indexed under Dystonia.
Browse Dystonia studies →National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead sponsor of 592 studies on the registry; 56 are open to participants now.
Of its 18 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 8 (44%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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.
This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2005. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)