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Article by: Sharon Wong Shi May
Case study
A 77-year-old post-spine surgery woman noticed involuntary left hand movement while she was watching television. She described her hand as someone controlling it. She attempted to control her left hand with her right hand but was unsuccessful. After 30 minutes, she regained control but was left with weakness in her left upper limb (Panikkath et al., 2014).
Introduction
Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS) or Dr. Strangelove syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that causes one hand (non-dominant) or leg of an individual to act independently. The individual is not in control of their affected limb and will often perform tasks that are unintentional. In some extreme cases, the ‘alien hand’ would attempt to harm the individual via suffocation (Cronkleton, 2018). The first case has been known since 1908, where a 57-year-old woman, who suffered from stroke, complained her left hand was acting by its own will (Caixeta et al., 2007).
Cause
AHS is usually caused by injuries to the brain, such as stroke, trauma, aneurysms, tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. Brain surgeries also cause this syndrome as an attempt to treat epilepsy. This surgery involves incision along the corpus callosum, thus separating the two hemispheres of the brain (Cronkleton, 2018)
Symptoms
The most common symptom is the inability to control one’s limb as it acts independently. This means the limb moves involuntarily and performs tasks that may occur repeatedly and compulsively. Self-groping behavior and self-oppositional actions, such as the hand unbuttoning a shirt that you just buttoned are common. Therefore, the people affected may feel that their limb is foreign to them (Panikkath et al., 2014).
Diagnose
AHS can be diagnosed via observation and evaluation. However, it is difficult to accurately diagnose AHS as it is a neurological disorder that lacks psychiatric components and behavioral issues are more common than AHS (Cronkleton, 2018).
Treatment
There is no known cure for this syndrome and it can last from days to several years. Nevertheless, Cronkleton (2018) stated that scientists are working to Some methods have been introduced to reduce the symptoms, such as:
Muscle control therapies such as botulinum toxin (Botox)
Neuromuscular blocking agents such as benzodiazepine
Cognitive therapy techniques and Learning task behavioral therapies
Mirror box therapy
References:
Caixeta, L., Maciel, P., Nunes, J., Nazareno, L., Araújo, L. and Borges, J.R. (2007). Alien hand syndrome in AIDS: Neuropsychological features and physiopathological considerations based on a case report. Dementia & Neuropsychologia, [online] 1(4), pp.418–421. doi:https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-57642008dn10400016. [Accessed: 8 January 2024]
Cronkleton, E. (2018). Alien Hand Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/alien-hand-syndrome. [Accessed: 8 January 2024]
Panikkath, R., Panikkath, D., Mojumder, D. and Nugent, K. (2014). The Alien Hand Syndrome. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 27(3), pp.219–220. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2014.11929115. [Accessed: 8 January 2024]
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