Reflexes in Psychiatry

Overview

Journal Innov Clin Neurosci

Date 2011 Jun 4

PMID 21637631

Citations 2

Authors

Richard D Sanders

Paulette Marie Gillig

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Psychiatric patients often do not cooperate fully with the neurologic examination. Reflexes virtually bypass patient effort and are difficult to consciously determine. This article reviews muscle stretch (deep tendon) reflexes, and pathological reflexes including the extensor plantar (Babinski) and primitive release reflexes. Topics include findings in common psychiatric and neurologic conditions and methods for eliciting these signs.

Citing Articles

Disinhibition of Primitive Reflexes in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder: Insight Into Specific Mechanisms in Girls and Boys.

Bob P, Konicarova J, Raboch J Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:430685.

PMID: 34819879 PMC: 8606578. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.430685.

Persisting primitive reflexes in medication-naïve girls with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Konicarova J, Bob P, Raboch J Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013; 9:1457-61.

PMID: 24092983 PMC: 3788695. DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S49343.

References

Gillig P, Sanders R . Cranial Nerves IX, X, XI, and XII. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010; 7(5):37-41. PMC: 2882282. View

Schott J, Rossor M . The grasp and other primitive reflexes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003; 74(5):558-60. PMC: 1738455. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.74.5.558. View

Chen E, Shapleske J, Luque R, McKenna P, Hodges J, Calloway S . The Cambridge Neurological Inventory: a clinical instrument for assessment of soft neurological signs in psychiatric patients. Psychiatry Res. 1995; 56(2):183-204. DOI: 10.1016/0165-1781(95)02535-2. View

Griffiths T, Sigmundsson T, Takei N, Rowe D, Murray R . Neurological abnormalities in familial and sporadic schizophrenia. Brain. 1998; 121 ( Pt 2):191-203. DOI: 10.1093/brain/121.2.191. View

Girlanda P, Roberto M, Dattola R, Morgante L, Venuto C, Messina C . Electrophysiological study of the snout reflex in normal subjects and in parkinsonian and pseudobulbar patients. Eur Neurol. 1986; 25(3):166-71. DOI: 10.1159/000116004. View

Damasceno A, Delicio A, Mazo D, Zullo J, Scherer P, Ng R . Primitive reflexes and cognitive function. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2005; 63(3A):577-82. DOI: 10.1590/s0004-282x2005000400004. View

Mayo N, Sullivan S, Swaine B . Observer variation in assessing neurophysical signs among patients with head injuries. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1991; 70(3):118-23. DOI: 10.1097/00002060-199106000-00002. View

Okuda B, Kawabata K, Tachibana H, Kamogawa K, Okamoto K . Primitive reflexes distinguish vascular parkinsonism from Parkinson's disease. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008; 110(6):562-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2008.02.013. View

van Boxtel M, Bosma H, Jolles J, Vreeling F . Prevalence of primitive reflexes and the relationship with cognitive change in healthy adults: a report from the Maastricht Aging Study. J Neurol. 2006; 253(7):935-41. DOI: 10.1007/s00415-006-0138-7. View

10.

Lemke R . [Neurological findings in schizophrenics]. Psychiatr Neurol Med Psychol (Leipz). 1955; 7(8):226-9. View

11.

Dick J . The deep tendon and the abdominal reflexes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003; 74(2):150-3. PMC: 1738294. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.74.2.150. View

12.

Lohr J . Transient grasp reflexes in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 1985; 20(2):172-5. DOI: 10.1016/0006-3223(85)90077-0. View

13.

Hogan D, Ebly E . Primitive reflexes and dementia: results from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Age Ageing. 1995; 24(5):375-81. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/24.5.375. View

14.

De Renzi E, Barbieri C . The incidence of the grasp reflex following hemispheric lesion and its relation to frontal damage. Brain. 1992; 115 Pt 1:293-313. DOI: 10.1093/brain/115.1.293. View

15.

Burra P, POWLES W, Riopelle R, Ferguson M . A typical psychosis with reversible primitive reflexes. Can J Psychiatry. 1980; 25(1):74-7. DOI: 10.1177/070674378002500114. View

16.

Whittle I, Miller J . Clinical usefulness of the palmomental reflex. Med J Aust. 1987; 146(3):137-9. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1987.tb120156.x. View

17.

Singerman J, Lee L . Consistency of the Babinski reflex and its variants. Eur J Neurol. 2008; 15(9):960-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02219.x. View

18.

Owen G, Mulley G . The palmomental reflex: a useful clinical sign?. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002; 73(2):113-5. PMC: 1738000. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.73.2.113. View

19.

Sanders R . The Trigeminal (V) and Facial (VII) Cranial Nerves: Head and Face Sensation and Movement. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010; 7(1):13-6. PMC: 2848459. View

20.

OKeeffe S, Smith T, Valacio R, Jack C, Playfer J, Lye M . A comparison of two techniques for ankle jerk assessment in elderly subjects. Lancet. 1994; 344(8937):1619-20. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)90411-1. View