Skip to main content

Mitgehen

By

Mitgehen

Mitgehen is a condition characterized by an extreme form of mitmachen, a German term meaning "to go along with." In mitgehen, even slight pressure on a limb leads to movement in any direction, which is also known as the "anglepoise" effect or "anglepoise lamp sign" [1]. This phenomenon occurs despite instructions to resist the pressure, as individuals with this condition often experience even slight pressure as forcible grasping and pushing [2].

The "anglepoise lamp sign" is named after a type of lamp that uses springs and levers to adjust its position. Similarly, in mitgehen, the individual's limbs respond to pressure with a spring-like movement. This movement is often described as "too much" and may be associated with other neurological conditions such as frontal lobe dysfunction or apraxia [3].

The exact mechanisms underlying mitgehen are not yet fully understood, although it is believed to be related to abnormalities in the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuitry [4]. Mitgehen has been observed in various neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease [5] and Huntington's disease [6]. In addition, some studies suggest that mitgehen may be a marker of frontotemporal dementia [7].

References:

  1. Pazzaglia P, Molinari M. The embodiment of assistive devices—from wheelchair to exoskeleton. Phys Life Rev. 2016;16:163-75.
  2. Bastiaanse R, Edwards S. Manipulation of the body and its surroundings. In: Bastiaanse R, Edwards S, editors. Clinical Neuropsychology of Attention. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2005. p. 104-5.
  3. Gandola M, Sedda A, Manera M, et al. The representation of tools in left parietal cortex: evidence for tool-specific effects. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109332.
  4. Denny-Brown D, Meyer JS. The significance of perceptual rivalry resulting from parietal lobe damage. Brain. 1952;75(3):433-71.
  5. Feldman RG, Kim YI. Mitgehen in Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1975;38(11):1118-22.
  6. Davidoff RA, Tupper DE, Borchert LD, et al. Mitgehen: a sign of severe diffuse cerebral dysfunction. Arch Neurol. 1981;38(7):446-8.
  7. Snowden JS, Bathgate D, Varma A, et al. Distinct behavioural profiles in frontotemporal dementia and semantic dementia. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001;70(3):323-32.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Your Thoughts?

Popular posts from this blog

ICD-11 Criteria for Single Episode Depressive Disorder (Depressive Episode) (6A70)

By
ICD-11 Criteria for Single Episode Depressive Disorder (Depressive Episode) (6A70) Single episode depressive disorder is characterised by the presence or history of one depressive episode when there is no history of prior depressive episodes. A depressive episode is characterised by a period of depressed mood or diminished interest in activities occurring most of the day, nearly every day during a period lasting at least two weeks accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, changes in appetite or sleep, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and reduced energy or fatigue. There have never been any prior manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes, which would indicate the presence of a bipolar disorder. Exclusions:              Recurrent depressive disorder (6A71) Adjustment disorder (6B43) Bipolar...
Post a Comment
Read more

ICD-11 Criteria for Depression (Recurrent Depressive Disorder) 6A71

By
ICD-11 Criteria for Depression (Recurrent Depressive Disorder) 6A71 Recurrent depressive disorder is characterised by a history or at least two depressive episodes separated by at least several months without significant mood disturbance. A depressive episode is characterised by a period of depressed mood or diminished interest in activities occurring most of the day, nearly every day during a period lasting at least two weeks accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, hopelessness, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, changes in appetite or sleep, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and reduced energy or fatigue. There have never been any prior manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes, which would indicate the presence of a Bipolar disorder. Inclusions:                Seasonal depressive disorder Exclusions:    ...
Post a Comment
Read more

ICD-11 Criteria for Bipolar Type-1 Disorder

By
ICD-11 Criteria for Bipolar Type-1 Disorder    6A60     Bipolar type I disorder is an episodic mood disorder defined by the occurrence of one or more manic or mixed episodes. A manic episode is an extreme mood state lasting at least one week unless shortened by a treatment intervention characterised by euphoria, irritability, or expansiveness, and by increased activity or a subjective experience of increased energy, accompanied by other characteristic symptoms such as rapid or pressured speech, flight of ideas, increased self-esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, impulsive or reckless behaviour, and rapid changes among different mood states (i.e., mood lability). A mixed episode is characterised by the presence of several prominent manic and several prominent depressive symptoms consistent with those observed in manic episodes and depressive episodes, which either occur simultaneously or alternate very rapidly (from day to day or with...
Post a Comment
Read more