Intense Imagery Movements (IIM): More to motor stereotypies than meets the eye.

AIM: A subgroup of children who present with motor stereotypies in the context of episodes of intense imagery have recently been described in the literature,(1) termed Intense Imagery Movements (IIM). All children report conscious engagement in acts of imagery or imagination, with stereotyped movements occurring simultaneously with limited conscious awareness. This article reports preliminary cognitive data to inform clinical management and guide future research. METHOD: Intellectual functioning was assessed for ten children with IIM (7 boys, 3 girls; mean age = 10;01, age range = 6;06 to 14;04). In-depth neuropsychological assessments were conducted for four of these cases (3 boys, 1 girls; mean age = 9;05), with standardised questionnaires completed to assess mood, behaviour, attention/concentration, sensory functioning, motor functioning and stereotyped movements. RESULTS: All children exhibited discrepant intellectual profiles, especially on perceptual reasoning tasks, with significant impairments in processing speed. In-depth neuropsychological assessments indicated impaired performance on tests of attention and inhibition, but strengths in memory or oral expression. Three of the four children had sensory processing impairments, two had features of developmental co-ordination disorder and one had poor general well-being. None of the children had emotional or behavioural problems. INTERPRETATION: Children with IIM exhibit uneven intellectual and cognitive profiles, with particular discrepancies in perceptual reasoning skills. The case studies suggest that weaker attention, inhibition and processing speed skills may contribute to engagement in IIM, with good memory and/or language skills potentially contributing to the complexity of imagery abilities. Implications for the identification and management of these children in clinical practice, and future research ideas, are discussed.

Intense imagery movements: a common and distinct paediatric subgroup of motor stereotypies.

AIM: The aim of this article is to describe a subgroup of children who presented with stereotyped movements in the context of episodes of intense imagery. This is of relevance to current discussions regarding the clinical usefulness of diagnosing motor stereotypies during development. METHOD: The sample consisted of 10 children (nine males, one female; mean age 8y 6mo [SD 2y 5mo], range 6-15y). Referrals were from acute paediatricians, neurologists, and tertiary epilepsy services. Children were assessed by multidisciplinary teams with expertise in paediatric movement disorders. RESULTS: Stereotypies presented as paroxysmal complex movements involving upper and lower limbs. Imagery themes typically included computer games (60%), cartoons/films (40%), and fantasy scenes (30%). Comorbid developmental difficulties were reported for 80% of children. Brain imaging and electrophysiological investigations had been conducted for 50% of the children before referral to the clinic. INTERPRETATION: The descriptive term 'intense imagery movements' (IIM) was applied if (after interview) the children reported engaging in acts of imagery while performing stereotyped movements. We believe these children may form a common and discrete stereotypy subgroup, with the concept of IIM being clinically useful to ensure the accurate diagnosis and clinical management of this paediatric movement disorder.