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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2025 Aug 25.
Published in final edited form as: Dystonia. 2025 Aug 22;4:14695. doi: 10.3389/dyst.2025.14695

Table 4.

Behavioral therapy for dystonia.

Behavioral therapy (n = 8)
Author Study design Participant characteristics Intervention Assessment outcomes Results AAN class
Active group Control group Active Control
Focal limb dystonia
Tibben. et al., 2023108 Netherlands Case series Type Sports-related task specific dystonia Treatment Behavioral Therapy NA Overall Symptoms (subjective) All patients improved IV
N 4 Details Standardized behavioral therapy & relaxation techniques
M/F 3/1
Age (y) 40, 53, 49, 19 Frequency/Duration 8 sessions, 16 w
Kobori. et al., 2007109 Japan Case report Type Sports-related task specific dystonia Treatment Behavioral therapy NA Numerical rating scale (pain) Improvement in pain IV
N 1 Details Psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, cognitive restructuring
M/F M
Age (y) 21 Frequency/Duration 7 sessions, 8 m
Wieck. et al., 1988107 UK RCT Type Writer’s cramp Treatment Habit reversal treatment Relaxation training Writing tasks (performance) Both groups significantly improved writing performance No significant difference between groups II
N 9 11 Details Putting pen down & contract opposing muscle when cramp
M/F 8/1 8/3
Age (y) 52 ± 10 49 ± 16 Frequency/Duration 5 sessions, 4 w
Functional dystonia
Hsieh. et al., 2020112 UK Case report N 1 Treatment Multidisciplinary program NA Walking test, BDI, Work and Social Adjustment Scale (performance, depression, ADL) Significant improvement in all outcomes IV
M/F F Details Cognitive, behavioral therapy, PT, physical activities, psychoeducation
Age (y) Early 40s Frequency/Duration 3 d/w, 8w
Khachane. et al., 2019110 Australia Case report N 1 Treatment Mind-Body program NA Overall Symptoms (subjective) Full recovery IV
M/F M Details Sleep hygiene, hypnosis, psychotherapy, PT, OT
Age (y) 14 Frequency/Duration 3 w admission
Chudleigh. et al., 2013111 Australia Case report N 1 Treatment Multidisciplinary care NA Overall Symptoms (subjective) Full recovery IV
M/F F Details Child psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse consultant & pediatric resident
Age (y) 17 Frequency/Duration 2 session/w, 3 w
Chatterjee. et al., 2018113 India Case report N 1 Treatment Structured psychotherapy and family intervention NA Overall Symptoms (subjective) Full recovery IV
M/F M Details NA
Age (y) 13 Frequency/Duration NA
Puccioni-Sohler. et al., 2016114 Brazil Case report N 1 Treatment Psychotherapy NA Overall Symptoms (subjective) Improvement of the involuntary movement IV
M/F M Details NA
Age (y) 46 Frequency/Duration NA

Values are shown as mean (standard deviation or SD), if SD was not available in the article min - max were shown if possible. AAN class, American Academy of Neurology classification framework; number of patients, n; male, M; female, F; year, y; month, week, w; hour, h; minute, min; second, s; not applicable, NA; Randomized controlled trial, RCT; electromyography, EMG; Range of Motion, ROM; cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT; Physical Therapy, PT; Occupational therapy, OT; Beck’s Depression Inventory, BDI; Activities of Daily Living, ADL