Eighteen people who suffered from panic attacks and/or agoraphobia were compared with 18 controls in their responses to the Schilder test for the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex. All the research individuals scored highly, compared with only a third of the control group. The result was statistically significant using the Mann-Whitney U test, suggesting a relationship between the Schilder test and panic or agoraphobic states.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (third edition – revised), DSM-III-R. Washington: American Psychiatric Association.
2.
AyresA, (1979) Sensory integration and the child. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
3.
BarlowDHCernyJA, (1988) Psychological treatment of panic. New York: Guilford Press.
4.
BobathB, (1985) Abnormal postural reflex activity caused by brain lesions. Oxford: Butterworth and Heinemann.
5.
CreekJ, (1990) Occupational therapy and mental health: Principles, skills and practice. London: Churchill Livingstone.
6.
FieldJBlytheP, (1989) Towards developmental re-education. Wichenford, Worcestershire: Field Publications.
7.
GoddardS, (1994) Reflexes – the basis of education. Monograph. Chester: Institute for Neuro-physiological Psychology.
8.
GoddardS, (1996) A teacher's window into the child's mind. Eugene, Oregon: Fern Ridge Press.
9.
HixsonVMathewsA, (1984) Sensory integration and chronic schizophrenia. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(1), 19–24.
10.
HussAJ, (1990) Sensorimotor and neurodevelopmental frames of reference. In: CreekJ. Occupational therapy and mental health: Principles, skills and practice. London: Churchill Livingstone.
11.
JacobRGMollerMBTurnerSMWallC, (1985) Otoneurological examination in panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks: A pilot study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 715–20.
12.
KingU, (1974) A sensory-integrative approach to schizophrenia. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(9), 529–36.
13.
LehrerPWoolfolkR, eds (1993) Principles and practice of stress management. 2nd ed.New York: Guilford Press.
14.
LevinsonHN, (1989a) Abnormal optokinetic and perceptual span parameters in cerebellar-vestibular dysfunction and related anxiety disorders. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 69, 471–84.
15.
LevinsonHN, (1989b) The cerebellar-vestibular predisposition to anxiety disorders. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68, 323–38.
16.
LevinsonHNCarterS, (1986) Phobia free. New York: M Evans.
17.
MarksI, (1981) Space ‘phobia’: A pseudo-agoraphobic syndrome. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 44, 387–91.
18.
MarksIBebbingtonP, (1976) Space phobia: Syndrome or agoraphobic variant?British Medical Journal, 2, 345–47.
19.
MirabileCS, (1972) Mental illness and susceptibility to motion sickness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 100–102.
20.
PaineRSOppeTE, (1966) Neurological examination of children. London: Spastics Society/William Heinemann.
21.
ParmenterCL, (1975) The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex in normal first and third grade children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29, 463–68.
22.
ReismanJBlakeneyA, (1991) Exploring sensory integrative treatment in chronic schizophrenia. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 11(1), 25–43.
23.
RiderB, (1978) Sensorimotor treatment of chronic schizophrenics. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 32(7), 451–55.
24.
SiegKShusterJ, (1979) Comparison of three positions for evaluating the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 33, 311–16.
25.
SheehanDBallengerJJacobsenG, (1980) Treatment of endogenous anxiety with phobic, hysterical and hypochondriacal symptoms. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 51–59.
26.
WilsonBPollockNKaplanBLawMFarrisP, (1992) Reliability and construct validity of the clinical observations of motor and postural skills. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 775–83.