The child's motor
behavior seems driven, repetitive and nonfunctional. Examples include
biting or hitting self, body rocking, hand shaking or waving, head
banging, mouthing of objects, picking at skin or body openings.
This behavior seriously interferes with normal activities or causes
physical injury that requires medical treatment. Main characteristics
are:
If the patient also has Mental Retardation,
the stereotypic behavior is serious enough to be a focus of treatment. The
behavior is not better explained by a compulsion (as in Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder), a tic (Tic
Disorder), hair pulling (Trichotillomania)
or a Pervasive
Developmental Disorder.
It is
not directly caused by a general medical condition or the effects
of substance use.
The behavior
has persisted for at least 4 weeks.
Specify
if With Self-Injurious
Behavior. The behavior causes bodily injury that requires medical
treatment (or would, if the child were not interfered with).
None
identified
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders
have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician, therefore,
in his/her diagnostic attempt has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Cerebral
Palsy
Delayed-onset Movement Disorder.
Mild Neuromotor Disabilities.
Learning Disabilities.
Autism.
Drug-induced Movement Disorder.
Rett Syndrome.
Cause:
The causes of
this disorder are unknown. The movements appear to increase with
stress , frustration and boredom. Stereotypic movement disorder
is more common among boys.
Treatment:
Treatment should
be centered around the symptom, cause, and child's age. The environment
should be changed for those children that are self-injurious to
make sure they are safe.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Behavioral techniques
and psychotherapy have been the most successful treatment modalities.
