Book Review

Movement Disorders: Neurologic principles and practice

N Engl J Med 1997; 337:1931-1932December 25, 1997

Article

Movement Disorders: Neurologic principles and practice
Edited by Ray L. Watts and William C. Koller. 779 pp., illustrated. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1997. $125. ISBN: 0-07-035203-8

Over the past two decades, advances in the neurosciences have led to striking changes in the practice of clinical neurology. As knowledge of the pathophysiologic substrates of neurologic diseases has increased, the complexity of neurologic diagnosis and therapy has grown. As a result, several subspecialties in neurology have developed into relatively large and distinct disciplines. Movement Disorders: Neurologic Principles and Practice makes this point clear by providing a “comprehensive text on the neurologic basis of movement disorders . . . in the vein of . . . Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology and Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.” This fine contribution is divided into three sections: an introduction to movement disorders, neuroscientific foundations, and clinical disorders. There are 53 chapters written by 92 authors, reflecting the complexity and subspecialization within the field of movement disorders. Part I provides a concise and practical overview of the approach to patients with movement disorders, behavioral aspects of movement disorders, and neuroimaging in patients with such disorders. Part II reviews the biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, pathophysiology, pathology, and neuropharmacology of the basal ganglia. Most of the book is devoted to part III, which provides a thorough review of all aspects of clinical movement disorders.

As would be expected in any multiauthored textbook, some material is covered more than once (e.g., a number of figures in different parts of the book depict basal-ganglia circuitry). Nonetheless, the editors have made every effort to integrate the chapters and minimize redundancy. For example, several chapters refer to material covered in other chapters. In general, the figures, tables, and color plates are of high quality and are very well presented.

This book serves several purposes. Non-neurologists (e.g., gerontologists, internists, and psychiatrists) will find it a useful reference, since many movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, are relatively common or may be manifestations of other medical conditions (e.g., chorea in systemic lupus erythematosus, tardive dyskinesias, and chorea gravidarum). General neurologists and neurology residents will also find this book to be an excellent addition to their libraries. In addition, subspecialists in movement disorders will find the book useful because of the extensive reference list in each chapter, the valuable inclusion of clinical rating scales (e.g., the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, an essential-tremor rating scale, and the Huntington's Disease Functional Capacity Scale), and an appendix providing a list of patient-support organizations throughout the world.

The “decade of the brain” has produced great advances in the basic understanding of the nervous system in both health and disease. These advances have already affected the practice of clinical neurology by enlarging the scope of several subspecialties and producing new diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies for hitherto untreatable conditions. Movement Disorders: Neurologic Principles and Practice is a comprehensive account of recent advances in one such subspecialty of clinical neurology. The book succeeds in conveying the richness and complexity of this field while at the same time providing a practical approach to the evaluation and treatment of patients with movement disorders.

Andrew Feigin, M.D.
David Eidelberg, M.D.
North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY 11030