Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to Study Paroxysmal Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders

Inclusion Criteria

• •Established diagnosis of paroxysmal hyperkinetic movement disorders. The diagnosis will be established by the preliminary screening in the NINDS Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic, based on review of medical record, history, clinical evaluation, and video tapes of an attack.
• •Age 18 or older.
• •A reproducible trigger of paroxysmal hyperkinetic attacks, such as sudden movement, or prolonged exercise, which will produce attacks at least with 50% consistency.
• •Patients only with paroxysmal attacks of hyperkinetic movements.
• •Patients whose attacks can be precipitated easily.
• •Patients whose typical attack last at least 15 seconds.
• •Patients taking medication that may influence the central nervous system, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, clonazepam, and antidepressants (but not limited to these) for their paroxysmal dyskinesias (not seizures) will be asked to hold the medication prior to the study. A sufficient drug washout period will be established dependant upon the individual drug. Subjects may be admitted to the NIH if necessary. They will be asked to abstain from alcohol and caffeine 24 hours prior to the study as well.
• •Established diagnosis of psychogenic hyperkinetic movement disorders. The diagnosis will be established by the preliminary screening in the NINDS Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic, based on review of medical record, history, clinical evaluation, and video tapes of an attack.
• •Patients with clear onset, stereotyped, defined and evaluable hyperkinetic attacks.
• •Patients only with paroxysmal attacks of hyperkinetic movements.
• •Age 18 or older.
• •A reproducible trigger of paroxysmal hyperkinetic attacks, such as sudden movement, startle or prolonged exercise, which will produce attacks at least with 50% consistency.
• •Patients whose attacks can be precipitated easily.
• •Patients whose typical attack last at least 15 seconds.
• •Patients taking medication that may influence the central nervous system, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, clonazepam, and antidepressants (but not limited to these) will be asked to hold the medication prior to the study. A sufficient drug washout period will be established dependant upon the individual drug. Subjects may be admitted to the NIH if necessary. They will be asked to abstain from alcohol and caffeine 24 hours prior to the study as well.