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What is the Pisa Syndrome? A review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

H. Santos ,
E. Dornelles ,
J. Pereira  and
A. Vieira
H. Santos*
Affiliation:
Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Psiquiatria Forense, Lisbon, Portugal
E. Dornelles
Affiliation:
Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Serviço De Psiquiatria, Lisbon, Portugal
J. Pereira
Affiliation:
Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Clinica 6, Lisbon, Portugal
A. Vieira
Affiliation:
Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Ccsmo, Lisbon, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Pisa syndrome (PS) is a type of dystonia of rare occurrence, first described in 1972 as an adverse effect of neuroleptic agents. It is used to describe a postural abnormality that includes trunk flexion in the coronal plane and axial rotation, which improves in the supine position.

Objectives

In this work, we aim to conduct a brief review of Pisa Syndrome aetiology, pathophysiology and treatment.

Methods

A non-systematic search was conducted through the PubMed database for “pisa syndrome”. Articles were screened for relevant information on PS aetiology, pathophysiology and treatment.

Results

Pisa syndrome has been associated as an adverse effect of multiple drugs from different classes, mainly antipsychotics, dopaminergic agents and cholinesterase inhibitors. The underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Nevertheless, one of the most consensual hypothesis considers PS as a consequence of a cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance that can be caused by antipsychotic treatment. Some factors have been associated with increased risk for developing PS such as old age and polypharmacy. PS appears to be better treated with the reduction or interruption of the agent(s) associated with its onset.

Conclusions

Despite its low incidence, Pisa syndrome can occur as a side effect of a number of different medications and the identification of the trigger-drug is fundamental so it can be reduced or interrupted in order to treat this condition.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

Pisa Syndromereview
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S725
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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