PSYCHOGENIC CREMASTER REFLEX

The blink reflex recovery cycle differs between essential and presumed psychogenic blepharospasm.

BACKGROUND Psychogenic blepharospasm is difficult to distinguish clinically from benign essential blepharospasm (BEB). The blink reflex recovery cycle measures the excitability of human brainstem interneurons and is abnormal in BEB. We wished to study the blink reflex recovery cycle in patients with atypical (presumed psychogenic) blepharospasm (AB). METHODS This was a prospective data collec...

Psychogenic fever, functional fever, or psychogenic hyperthermia?

Psychogenic fever reflects a phenomenon where core body temperature is high (up to 41°C) or low-grade high (37-38°C) during either acute or chronic stress. Underlying mechanisms are distinct from infection-induced fever and involve the central and sympathetic nervous systems. Psychogenic fever appears a complex psychological, physiological and endocrinological phenomenon.

Psychogenic pain

Unless the patient has reasons for ‘malingering’ – the symptoms are simulated for compensation or litigation motives – pain is always indicative of some degree of dysfunction. In most instances, the dysfunction is physical. Sometimes, however, the pain is devoid of any organic basis. If the patient has an unconscious belief in the reality of the symptoms, a psychogenic disorder is likely. The p...

Psychogenic amnesia.

Time- and content-based memory systems are briefly described so that their importance for a refined analysis of memory disturbances becomes evident. These memory systems are then related to their brain instantiation, emphasizing that there are limbic circuits for encoding different forms of memories, largely cortical networks for memory storage, and a combined temporofrontal network acting to t...

Psychogenic diarrhea.