Chapter 23 - Functional gait disorder

Abstract

Gait disorder is a common accompaniment of functional neurologic disorders. The diagnosis of a functional or psychogenic gait is complex. It requires a sound knowledge of the range of phenomenology observed in organic movement disorders, the ability to evaluate and diagnose nonmovement disorder neurologic symptoms and signs, but additionally knowledge of potential musculoskeletal causes of gait disturbance. A stepwise approach to the analysis of the phenomenology and separation into four (sometimes overlapping) psychogenic gait syndromes is suggested to aid diagnosis: (1) movement disorder mimics; (2) neurologic (nonmovement disorder) mimics; (3) musculoskeletal or biomechanical mimics; and (4) isolated disequilibrium or balance disorders. Accurate diagnosis can lead to effective therapy.