Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-b4m5d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-22T19:47:44.915Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Behavioural Treatment of Blepharospasm: Two Case Reports

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Richard Fielding  and
Rachel Gunary
Richard Fielding
Affiliation:
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Bolton General Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton
Rachel Gunary
Affiliation:
Probationer Clinical Psychologist, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology Course, University of Manchester
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Blepharospasm is a distressing condition, characterized by a repetitive and spasmodic closing of the eyes, and/or an inability to open the eyes after blinking. The aetiology of the disorder remains obscure. The available literature tends towards viewing the condition as arising from or associated with neuropathological processes. Two cases of blepharospasm are presented here. Both were managed along purely behavioural lines, using massed practice and relaxation techniques. The results obtained strongly suggest a learning model, rather than a neuropathological model may best explain the condition. Possible mechanisms for the development and maintenance of blepharospasm are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , April 1982 , pp. 184 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brudny, J., Korein, J. and Levidow, L. (1974). Sensory feedback therapy as a modality of treatment in central nervous system disorders of voluntary movement. Neurology (Minneap.) 24, 924.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mears, R. (1971). Features which distinguish groups of spasmodic torticollis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 15(1), 150.Google Scholar
Miller, S. (1979). Controllability and human stress: method, evidence and theory. Behaviour Research and Therapy 17, 287–304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roxanas, M. R., Thomas, M. R. and Rapp, M. S. (1978). Biofeedback treatment of blepharospasm with spasmodic torticollis. Canadian Medical Association Journal 119, 48–49.Google ScholarPubMed
Volow, M. R., Cavenar, J. O., Grosch, W. M., Shipley, R. H. and Myers, M. (1980). The diagnostic dilemma of blepharospasm. American Journal of Psychiatry 137(5), 620–621.Google ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.