Motor disorders (tic disorders, stereotypic movement) — MCQs

An otherwise healthy 43-year-old woman comes to the physician because of several episodes of involuntary movements of her head over the past few months. They are sometimes associated with neck pain and last minutes to hours. Neurologic examination shows no abnormalities. During examination of the neck, the patient's head turns horizontally to the left. She states this movement is involuntary, and that she is unable to unturn her head. After 5 minutes, her head re-straightens. Which of the following best describes this patient's disorder?

A 5-year-old girl is brought to the physician because her mother has found her to be inattentive at home and has received multiple complaints from her teachers at school. She does not complete her assignments and does not listen to her teachers' instructions. She refuses to talk to her parents or peers. Her mother says, “She ignores everything I say to her!” She prefers playing alone, and her mother reports that she likes playing with 5 red toy cars, repeatedly arranging them in a straight line. She avoids eye contact with her mother and the physician throughout the visit. Physical and neurological examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

An 8-year-old girl is brought to the physician because of repetitive involuntary movements, including neck twisting, grimacing, grunting, and blinking, for the past 18 months. Her symptoms seem to improve with concentration and worsen with fatigue. During the past 3 months, they have become so severe that she has missed many school days. Her mother says she also has too much anxiety about her involuntary movements to see her friends and prefers staying home in her room. Her birth and development until 18 months ago were normal. Her father suffers from bipolar disorder. Vital signs are within normal limits. Mental status examination shows intact higher mental function and thought processes. Neurological examination shows multiple motor and vocal tics. Physical examination is otherwise within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial pharmacotherapy for this condition?

A 6-year-old boy presents to the pediatrician with his parents. He is fully vaccinated and met most developmental milestones. His fine motor milestones are delayed; at present, he cannot eat by himself and has difficulty in self-dressing. His intelligence quotient (IQ) is 65. He listens quietly while spoken to and engages in play with his classmates. He neither talks excessively nor remains mute, but engages in normal social conversation. There is no history of seizures and he is not on any long-term medical treatment. On his physical examination, his vital signs are stable. His height and weight are normal for his age and sex, but his occipitofrontal circumference is less than the 3rd percentile for his age and sex. His neurologic examination is also normal. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 44-year-old man presents to his primary care physician due to a tremor. His tremor has been progressively worsening over the course of several weeks and he feels embarrassed and anxious about going to social events. He says these movements are involuntary and denies having an urge to have these movements. Medical history is significant for depression which is being treated with escitalopram. His mother is currently alive and healthy but his father committed suicide and had a history of depression. Physical examination is remarkable for impaired saccade initiation and brief, abrupt, and non-stereotyped movements involved the right arm. He also has irregular finger tapping. Which of the following is the best treatment for this patient's symptoms?

A 4-year-old boy is brought to a pediatrician by his parents for a consultation after his teacher complained about his inability to focus or make friends at school. They mention that the boy does not interact well with others at home, school, or daycare. On physical examination, his vital signs are stable with normal weight, height, and head circumference for his age and sex. His general examination and neurologic examination are completely normal. A recent audiological evaluation shows normal hearing, and intellectual disability has been ruled out by a clinical psychologist. Which of the following investigations is indicated as part of his diagnostic evaluation at present?

A 25-year-old male medical student presents to student health with a chief complaint of picking at his skin. He states that at times he has urges to pick his skin that he struggles to suppress. Typically, he will participate in the act during finals or when he has "too many assignments to do." The patient states that he knows that his behavior is not helping his situation and is causing him harm; however, he has trouble stopping. He will often ruminate over all his responsibilities which make his symptoms even worse. The patient has a past medical history of surgical repair of his ACL two years ago. His current medications include melatonin. On physical exam you note a healthy young man with scars on his arms and face. His neurological exam is within normal limits. Which of the following is the best initial step in management?

A 28-year-old medical student presents to the student health center with the complaint being unable to sleep. Although he is a very successful student, over the past few months he has become increasingly preoccupied with failing. The patient states that he wakes up 10-15 times per night to check his textbooks for factual recall. He has tried unsuccessfully to suppress these thoughts and actions, and he has become extremely anxious and sleep-deprived. He has no past medical history and family history is significant for a parent with Tourette's syndrome. He is started on cognitive behavioral therapy. He is also started on a first-line medication for his disorder, but after eight weeks of use, it is still ineffective. What drug, if added to his current regimen, may help improve his symptoms?

A 33-year-old man presents to his physician with a 3-year history of gradually worsening tics and difficulty walking. He was last seen by the physician 5 years ago for anxiety, and he has been buying anti-anxiety medications from an internet website without a prescription as he cannot afford to pay for doctor’s visits. Now, the patient notes that his anxiety is somewhat controlled, but motor difficulties are making it difficult for him to work and socialize. Family history is unobtainable as his parents died in an accident when he was an infant. He grew up in foster care and was always a bright child. An MRI of the brain is ordered; it shows prominent atrophy of the caudate nucleus. Repeats of which of the following trinucleotides are most likely responsible for this patient’s disorder?

A 33-year-old man presents to a physician with a 3-year history of gradually worsening tics and difficulty walking. He was last seen by the physician 5 years ago for anxiety and has been purchasing anti-anxiety medications from an internet website without a prescription because he cannot afford to pay for the office visits. Now he says his anxiety is somewhat controlled, but the motor difficulties are making it difficult for him to work and socialize. His family history is unknown because his parents died in an automobile accident when he was an infant. He grew up in foster care and was always a bright child. An MRI of the brain is ordered, which shows prominent atrophy of the caudate nucleus. Repeats of which of the following trinucleotides are most likely responsible for this patient’s disorder?