Alien Hand Syndrome, (Dr Strangelove Syndrome) A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Alien Hand Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
Alien hand syndrome (Dr Strangelove Syndrome) is a rare neurological disorder that causes one hand to act on its own free will.
Sometimes one leg is affected, though this is not as frequent.
With alien hand syndrome, the hand is not under the control of the mind and moves as though it has its own mind.
The affected hand feels alien to its owner during these events and seems to move purposefully to carry out tasks that are not intentional.
Alien hand is an infrequently diagnosed disorder after brain illness that affects complicated, goal-directed movement of one hand for which the patient lacks conscious intention
While it can affect children, normally alien hand occurs in adults.
It is sometimes referred to as Dr. Strangelove syndrome from the movie Dr Strangelove who potray the alien hand syndrome.
Causes
Alien hand syndrome can be caused by several factors.
Some people form alien hand syndrome after a stroke, trauma, or tumor.
It is occasionally linked with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain aneurysms.
Alien hand syndrome is linked to brain surgeries that divide the two hemispheres of the brain.
This may require an incision along the corpus callosum.
The corpus callosum divides the brain hemispheres and permits for communication between the two sides.
Surgeries to treat epilepsy occasionally involve the brain in this way.
With distinctively abnormal medical symptoms, alien hand syndrome may be produced by a number of causes of cerebral injury and more than one specific area of cerebral damage.
Besides the corpus callosum, other regions of the brain linked with alien hand syndrome are:
1. Brain lesions in alien hand syndrome
2. Generally, it would make sense for visual, sensory, or motor dissociation such as hemi-agnosia to be linked with alien hand syndrome.
Symptoms
The most main symptom of alien hand syndrome is the inability to control the hand as it acts independently.
The involved hand may move against the owner’s will and do goal-focused tasks and actions.
The hand is said to shift without cognitive control or awareness.
It is as though it is being regulated by someone else or has a mind of its own.
The hand may touch the face, button a shirt, or pick up an object, occasionally repeatedly or compulsively.
The alien hand may also ascend on its own.
The hand may also take on in self-oppositional actions such as closing a drawer that the other hand just opened or unbuttoning a shirt that the patient just buttoned.
Diagnosis
A doctor may diagnose alien hand syndrome through surveillance and assessment.
Diagnosis of alien hand syndrome is complicated because it is a neurological disorder that lacks a psychiatric component.
Treatment
There is no cure for alien hand syndrome.
Treatments and medicinal choices for alien hand syndrome help to diminish symptoms.
People with alien hand syndrome after brain illness or a stroke may recover after some time.
The resolution is less effective for people with neurodegenerative diseases.
The disorder may be managed using muscle control treatments such as botulinum toxin and neuromuscular blocking agents.
Benzodiazepines have been successful in some cases, but behavioral methods appear to be more beneficial.
Mirror box treatment, cognitive therapy methods, and learning task behavioral treatments can help control symptoms.
Visuospatial coaching methods may also assist.
Occasionally the patient will try to restrain their alien hand by holding it under between their legs or sitting on it.
Some people may find that it is useful to hold an object in the alien hand to prevent it from doing tasks.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Alien Hand Syndrome
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Tourette Syndrome
Chapter 8 Facial Tics
Epilogue