THE NEW CLASSIFICATION OF DYSTONIA

Abstract

Clinical examination and diagnostic approach of the patient who suffers from dystonia remains a challenge. In the past, numerous efforts have been made until currently to organize the phenomenology and nosology of dystonia in a practical and useful way. In 2013, a new classification system was suggested by the Movement Disorders Society as an attempt to address weaknesses of previous systems. This updated scheme was still based on the phenomenology of dystonia, emphasizing, however, a more syndromic approach to guide diagnosis. Due to the growing understanding of the underlying mechanisms of dystonia using neuroimaging methods, pathology and genetics, an etiological axis was introduced to this new system in addition to the classic clinical one, in order to the diagnostic approach and provide a common language between clinicians and researchers. Here we present the latest classification system of dystonia, along with the criticism it has received.