Pediatric Movement Disorders - Psychogenic Disorders

Mechanism

It is important to realize that psychogenic disorders are no less real than any other neurologic disease. They are due to abnormal function of the brain but not to injury to the brain. It is difficult to know why a particular child develops dystonia, tremor, or another type of psychogenic disorder. In some cases, the child may be familiar with the disorder, having observed an affected friend or relative.