Visually–evoked freezing in Parkinson disease – with reference to claustrophobia

Abstract

Visually–evoked freezing (VEF) is a peculiar symptom in Parkinson disease patients that is difficult to manage. VEF typically occurs when the patient enters from a large room/space to the narrow doorway ; then, he or she suddenly experiences gait freezing, sometimes together with being uneasy and anxious. While it is known that visual input and emotion might affect motor function, the exact mechanism of VEF remains unclear. Recently, claustrophobia (a form of anxiety/depression, feeling an intense and irrational fear of being in confined or enclosed spaces) has attracted attention as a form of VEF, and several experimental findings are available. Since VEF is a troublesome symptom, appropriate care is needed in Parkinson disease patients.