ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the ways in which neuropsychologists can be most helpful in making the differential diagnoses. It begins by discussing the significance of the problem by presenting some prevalence data on psychogenic movement disorders (PMD). The chapter reviews the primary symptom characteristics, including cognitive profiles, of some of the most commonly seen physiologically based movement disorders and then contrasts these findings with what is known about PMD. A review of the PMD literature, and the somatoform literature more broadly, as one’s own clinical experience, suggest that neuropsychologists have much to offer in the differential diagnosis between physiologically and nonphysiologically based movement disorders. The chapter reviews specific studies examining neuropsychological variables in the context of PMD, and provides cases from the own work for real-life examples of PMD in the neuropsychological setting. It concludes with an overview of the preliminary approach to aiding in the differential diagnosis of PMD.
