Abdominal dystonia in a patient with schizophrenia: a case report

The case of 31-year-old woman suffering from schizophrenia with movement disorder is described. The patient had a 7-year history of schizophrenia. In course of the psychiatric treatment the patient presented dystonic movements within abdominal muscles. The dystonic movements were of mixed character, including voluntary and involuntary ones what might have Suggested their psychogenic origin. Subsequent to the exclusion of the neurological origin of the movement disorder and poor response to antipsychotic treatment, clozapine was introduced resulting in full remission of positive symptoms and functional improvement with a diminished intensity of the involuntary movements. Psychogenic movement disorders are uncommon in schizophrenic patients. Movement disorders may Occur as an adverse reaction to antipsychotic treatment, especially with typical ones. However, the abdominal Muscles dystonia is an uncommon manifestation of dystonia of idiopathic, drug-induced or psychogenic origin. In such cases, a liaison between the neurologist and psychiatrist is advocated and the therapeutic process using anti psychotic treatment is necessary.