Crack dancing in the United Kingdom: apropos a video case presentation

Mov Disord. 2007 Jun 15;22(8):1190-1. doi: 10.1002/mds.21430.

Abstract

We report an adult patient presenting with choreiform movements 4 days after a large intravenous dose of cocaine. These movements were transitory and they normalized a week after admission. We believe this to be the first video case of acute chorea secondary to cocaine--a phenomenon popularly known as "crack dancing. " Cocaine abuse is associated with a wide range of movement disorders, including dystonia and exacerbation of Tourette's syndrome, multifocal tics, opsoclonus-myoclonus, choreiform movements, and stereotyped behavior known as "punding." Transient choreiform movements with a typical duration of 2 to 6 days are recognized by cocaine abusers themselves as crack dancing, but are infrequently reported. We present a video report of a patient with cocaine dependency and choreiform movements that normalized within a week of admission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chorea / diagnosis
  • Chorea / etiology*
  • Crack Cocaine*
  • Dancing*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*
  • United Kingdom
  • Videotape Recording*

Substances

  • Crack Cocaine