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

Which term describes the combination of chorea and athetosis?

1. Choreaonly

2. Athetoschizophrenia

3. Choreoathetosis

4. Psychochorea

The correct answer is: Choreoathetosis

The term that describes the combination of chorea and athetosis is coined as choreoathetosis. In medical terminology, “chorea” refers to irregular, unpredictable movements, whereas “athetosis” denotes slow, writhing movements. When these two types of movement disorders occur together, they form choreoathetosis, which is characterized by a mixture of both types of involuntary movements. This condition is often seen in various neurological disorders and represents a more complex movement pattern than either chorea or athetosis alone. Thus, choreoathetosis effectively encapsulates the characteristics of both conditions, making it the appropriate term to use for this combination of symptoms.