How long does it take to diagnose cervical dystonia?
BACKGROUND
Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary twisting movements and postures. The neck is among the most commonly affected regions, and diagnosis can be made readily through a simple clinical evaluation. The goal of this study was to explore how long it took patients to receive a diagnosis of cervical dystonia after symptom onset.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire was administered at outpatient clinics of a tertiary care academic medical center to 146 consecutively evaluated patients. The questionnaire addressed the length of time from symptom onset to diagnosis, the numbers and types of providers seen before reaching a diagnosis, and treatments attempted prior to receiving botulinum toxin.


RESULTS
A total of 108 patients saw a mean of 3.5 providers over a mean period of 44 months from symptom onset to diagnosis. For patients with symptom onset in the last decade only, patients saw a mean of 3.0 providers over a mean of 14 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Although cervical dystonia is the most common form of dystonia with clinical features readily identifiable by a simple history and examination, patients typically see multiple providers over more than a year before reaching a diagnosis and receiving optimal therapy. Improved awareness of the clinical features will enable patients to obtain appropriate therapy more rapidly.
['Tiderington|Evan|E|', 'Goodman|Emily M|EM|', 'Rosen|Ami R|AR|', 'Hapner|Edie R|ER|', 'Johns|Michael M|MM|', 'Evatt|Marian L|ML|', 'Freeman|Alan|A|', 'Factor|Stewart|S|', 'Jinnah|H A|HA|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents D001905:Botulinum Toxins D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010045:Outpatients D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D016019:Survival Analysis D013997:Time Factors D014103:Torticollis D055815:Young Adult
Cervical dystonia Dystonia Diagnosis Cohort studies Movement disorder Torticollis