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).
To
Be 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's 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.
