National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

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What is the term for a persistent unilateral neck spasm that causes the head to rotate?

Spasmodic torticollis
Myasthenia gravis
Cervical dystonia
Trigeminal neuralgia

The correct answer is: Spasmodic torticollis

The term for a persistent unilateral neck spasm that causes the head to rotate is spasmodic torticollis, also known as cervical dystonia. This condition results in involuntary contractions of the neck muscles, leading to abnormal postures and movements, often including the rotation of the head to one side. Individuals with spasmodic torticollis may experience discomfort, pain, and difficulties with daily activities due to the persistent nature of the muscle spasms. While cervical dystonia is closely related to spasmodic torticollis and is often used interchangeably, spasmodic torticollis specifically describes the type of dystonia that causes head rotation. The other terms listed refer to different conditions: myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting nerve signaling to muscles, trigeminal neuralgia involves severe facial pain due to irritation of the trigeminal nerve, and neither of these involves the type of unilateral neck spasms associated with spasmodic torticollis.