Psychomotor desadaptation syndrome

This article constitutes a description of a clinical entity that has been o bserved and that we have described in French literature for over 10 years. This syndrome has been named 'la Regression Psychomotrice' in the french la nguage and is termed here 'psychomotor desadaptation syndrome' (PDS). Postu ral impairments, neurological signs and psychological features have been fo und to be associated with PDS. Postural and neurological disorders were cha racterized by retropulsion, muscle tone modification, and the loss of react ive and protective postural reactions. Psychological features consisted of slowness of cognitive processing, often associated with anxiety and a fear of falling. PDS may be considered as a functional disorder, and clinicians must identify not only predisposing factors, but also etiological ones. The medical treatment of these factors and specific readaptation approaches mu st be associated with the management of PDS. PDS appears to be a reversible syndrome if a multidisciplinary approach and early management are undertak en. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.