Spasmophilia: a clinical neurophysiopathological and biochemical study.

Spasmophilia is a problem much debated as regards its nosographic location. Its paroxysmal onset in a "neurotic" patient has confined spasmophilia within a psychiatric syndromic complex for many years. In the present study, strict clinical criteria used in selecting a population of spasmophilic patients included clinical, neurophysiological, biohumoral and psychological evaluations, providing further information about the real organic features of this syndrome. Moreover, on the basis of an organic pathogenetic hypothesis, all patients were administered medical therapy which resulted in clinical amelioration in a significant number of cases.