A Case of Stereotyped Repetitive Movements

Stereotyped repetitive movements are defined in ICD-9 as "disorders in which voluntary repetitive stereotyped movements which are not due to any psychiatric or neurological condition-constitute the main feature. Includes head banging, spasmus nutans, rocking, twirling, finger-flicking mannerisms and eyepoking. Such movements are particularly common in cases of mental retardation with sensory impairment or with environmental monotony (307.3)." Silver (1980) classified head banging as being part of autoerotic behaviour or temper tantrums. According to Silberstein et al. (1966), head banging usually manifests itself in the age group of 6 months to 18 months and rarely later than that.