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Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP))

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Abstract

Myoclonus is defined as sudden, brief, shocklike involuntary movements caused by muscular contractions (positive myoclonus) or inhibitions (negative myoclonus). “Myoclonus” should be considered a descriptive term that refers to a symptom or sign. As with many neurologic symptoms and signs, myoclonus does not constitute a diagnosis, and it is nonspecific relative to its neuroanatomical source, its pathogenesis, and the cause of the syndrome in which it occurs. Myoclonus often has strong implications for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the underlying disorder.

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© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Caviness, J.N. (2000). Myoclonus. In: Adler, C.H., Ahlskog, J.E. (eds) Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-410-8_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-410-8_27

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-095-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-410-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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