ABSTRACT
Movement disorders comprise two main categories: These are characterized by akinesia and rigidity, the most common degenerative cause being Parkinson's disease. Tardive dyskinesias are abnormal involuntary movements that appear after months or years of neuroleptic treatment. The most common form is a choreiform orofacial dyskinesia consisting of repetitive movements of the mouth and tongue, which occurs particularly in the elderly. Dopamine receptor blocking agents of any class may occasionally provoke a life-threatening syndrome of extreme rigidity, fever, autonomic disturbances, and a fluctuating level of consciousness associated with a high serum creatine kinase concentration and often a leukocytosis. Restless legs syndrome is common, affecting 3–10 per cent of the population to some degree. It can be familial or sporadic. The latter is sometimes associated with iron deficiency, anaemia, pregnancy, peripheral neuropathy or uraemia. Psychogenic movement disorders can present as any movement disorder, although dystonia and tremor are the most common manifestations and psychogenic parkinsonism and chorea are rare.
