Does stiff person syndrome cause fatigue? Is stiff person syndrome psychological?

Several internet users have been looking up the meaning of Stiff Person Syndrome since Celine Dion announced that she had postponed her much awaited concert due to the rare disorder.

According to the The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), is a rare, progressive neurological disorder first described nearly 40 years ago.

Though an exact cause is not yet known, its cause has been attributed to both neurologic and psychiatric processes.

Its symptoms includes stiff muscles in the trunk (torso), arms, and legs; and greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, with the tendency of sparking muscle spasms.

Though the occurrence of fatigue has been reported in SPS, it may be overshadowed by other muscular complaints.

SPS is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, psychosomatic illness, or anxiety and phobia.

SPS affects twice as many women as men and it is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type-I diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.