Stereotypic Movement Disorder – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The stereotypic movement disorder causes risk of injuries to patients due to the complications of uncontrollable movement. For example, they can start to bite themselves, bang their heads, etc., all of a sudden. Quick medical attention or behavioural therapy is necessary to help patients.

Here is all you must know about this disorder, including symptoms, types, risk factors, diagnosis, etc.

Stereotypic movement disorder or motor stereotype is a medical condition in which the patient engages in repetitive, uncontrollable and rhythmic movements of their body or body parts. They can wave their hands, twist their hair, etc. The purposeless movements can even lead to minor or major injuries.

These episodic movements may occur several times in a day, mostly when patients become fatigued, frustrated, excited or bored. Nevertheless, these actions can subside with intervention or distraction. Mostly, children with developmental or intellectual disabilities get affected by motor stereotypes.

There are two categories of this disorder according to its occurrence. These are as mentioned below:

1. Primary Motor Stereotypes: When a normally growing child develops symptoms of stereotypical movement disorder.
2. Secondary Motor Stereotypes: When a child, who has already suffered from developmental disorders like retardation, autism, etc., grows symptoms of motor stereotypes.

There are also symptom-wise classifications of this disorder, as mentioned below:

1. Common Stereotypic Movement Disorder

The symptoms of this type of motor stereotype are not well-pronounced. It is hard to distinguish the symptoms of this disorder from the common habits of children. Initially, a child affected by the illness may show signs like hair twisting, body rocking, teeth grinding, head banging, self-biting, etc. These symptoms generally grow with time.

2. Head Nodding Motor Stereotypes

In this type of motor stereotype, children nod their heads in different directions, up and down, back and forth sidewise, etc. They can also throw their legs and hands or roll their eyeballs in an upward direction along with the typical head movements.

3. Complex Motor Stereotypies (CMS)

Complex motor stereotypes can develop in a child of three years. Affected children show symptoms like waving/flapping/rotating hands, finger jiggling, etc. Along with these typical movements, they can keep their mount open, run, hop or do different head postures.

Following are some observable symptoms of stereotypic movement disorder:

• Waving arm
• Banging head
• Hitting oneself against a wall
• Rocking body
• Flapping hand
• Wiggling finger
• Biting oneself
• Nodding head
• Twisting hair
• Sucking thumb
• Biting nail
• Mouthing objects

Following are some of the risk factors that can be held responsible for the development of stereotype movement disorder:

• Heredity: This disorder may develop in children due to genetic factors. They may develop the symptoms of stereotypical movement disorder if they have a family history of this disease.

• Developmental Conditions: Some developmental diseases, such as autism, can be potential risk factors for secondary stereotypic movement disorder.

• Brain Injury: An individual can be affected by this disorder if they have sustained a major brain injury causing neurological problems.

• Stimulant Drugs: Prolonged intake of stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine can also produce the symptoms of this movement disorder.

If you see the signs of the stereotypical movement disorder in your child, you need to take them to a paediatrician to ensure the required medical attention. The doctor will conduct the necessary tests according to the symptoms.

The first thing that a medical practitioner will do is a thorough investigation of the medical history of the patient. They will also perform some necessary tests to diagnose the mental and physical condition.

There is no laboratory-based test that can help in the diagnosis of stereotypic movement disorder. However, doctors may feel the necessity to conduct some blood and neuroimaging tests to see whether the symptoms are caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, Tourette syndrome, chorea disorders, etc. They also find out if any physical illness is the reason for symptoms in the patient.

Doctors start the treatment for stereotypic movement disorder after carefully examining patients' symptoms and behavioural aspects. The primary goal of this remedial process is to ensure that patients do not get injured due to their abrupt behaviour.

 Following are some of the treatment procedures that they perform:

1. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

With the help of this therapy, doctors help patients to recognise patterns of their changing behaviours and movements. For example, if patients have recurring self-hurting behavioural patterns, health care experts guide them about how they can restrain themselves. Another objective of this remedial measure is to train patients on how they can reduce their stress and anxiety.

Relaxation techniques, functional communication training, and differential reinforcement are some different therapies that doctors may use to control the negative behavioural patterns of patients.

2. Medication

There are no specific medicines that will help in treating stereotypic movement disorder. However, doctors recommend medications when therapies fail to pacify negative behavioural patterns of patients. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants like Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft or antipsychotics like aripiprazole or risperidone as required.

Besides these treatments, doctors also suggest environmental changes. Patients should ideally stay in an environment where the chances of hurting themselves are less.

There is, unfortunately, no preventive measure for stereotypic movement disorder. This is because there is no particular cause that can be responsible for the development of this disorder. Nevertheless, of drug abuse is the cause of the condition, then refraining from indulging in the practice and rehabilitation can be effective preventive measures.

You need to recognise the symptoms of this disease and take the child to a paediatrician quickly to ensure that the symptoms are observed carefully. They can take the necessary remedial measures to protect the child from self-injury.

Patients with stereotypic movement disorder need proper observation, medication and other necessary therapies so that they can deal with their periodic urges of making typical repetitive actions. If you note a child making sudden, repetitive movements, as mentioned, you should get them to a doctor to know whether motor stereotype disorder is the cause.