Carlos Morra and Ernst Franzek: Psychopathological Symptoms
Ambitendency

Definition: Tentative, hesitant voluntary movement in response to a properly perceived cue which does not reach intended goal (Hamilton 1976; Petho and Ban 1988).  

Exploration: The examiner offers his hand for a handshake and the patient makes an initial move to shake examiner’s hand but in the middle of the act his movement becomes hesitant to the extent that it either stops completely without ever reaching examiner’s hand, or just touches the hand offered by the examiner.

References:

Hamilton M. Fish´s clinical psychopathology. 2nd Ed. Bristol: Wright; 1976, p. 104

Petho B, Ban TA.DCR Budapest-Nashville in the diagnosis and classification of functional psychoses. Psychopathology 1988; 21: 52-240.

Carlos Morra and Ernst Franzek

October 20, 2016