Pathophysiology of writer’s cramp: an exploratory study on task-specificity and non-motor symptoms using an extended fine-motor testing battery

BACKGROUND Writer's cramp (WC) is a task-specific focal dystonia which manifests itself as abnormal postures interfering with motor performance. As the spread of motor symptoms remains controversial and non-motor symptoms are widely discussed, in this exploratory study, we explore the pathophysiology of WC, focusing on task-specificity and the psychological profiles of WC patients. METHODS In 14 right-handed WC patients and matched controls, we assessed motor control by applying motor performance tests (Vienna Test Series), as well as using writing analysis and grip-force measurements. Moreover, detailed psychological factors were assessed. Classification trees were used to distinguish patients from controls. RESULTS The total duration of writing and the vertical writing frequency of the pen are the most important variables to split the data set successfully into patients and controls. No other variables concerning motor performance tests, grip-force measurements or psychological factors correctly separated patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS Only variables from the writing tasks successfully separated patients and controls, indicating a strong task-specificity of WC in our patient group. Future research should be performed with larger samples of untreated WC patients in early stages of impairment, without any secondary motor disturbances, to verify our findings.