[Application of actigraphy in psychiatry].

Altered motor activity is a frequently observed symptom in many psychiatric disorders. It is an important diagnostic parameter in mania, depression, ADHD and others. The method which allows measuring motor activity precisely and objectively is actometry. An actometer is a small, electronic device measuring body movements. This paper is a review of psychiatric research in which actometry was used: sleep disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, affective disorders and also in chronobiology and psychopharmacology. Methodology of actometric research and limitations of the method are discussed.