Khat consumption as a modifiable risk factor for chewing dystonia

Abstract

Chewing dystonia, a variant of focal task-specific dystonia, is a rarely reported condition that causes remarkable decrement in quality-of-life, social embarrassment, and associated mental stress. In this article, we present two case studies that extend previous observations, which indicate a putative association between khat (Catha edulis) consumption and chewing dystonia. While pharmacological treatments such as botulinum toxin injections may be an option, a substantial proportion of affected individuals do not achieve optimal outcomes. If preventable, a medical condition ought to be prevented. The observations presented in the two case studies discussed indicate that khat consumption may be a modifiable risk factor for chewing dystonia.

Keywords

• catha edulis
• chewing dystonia
• focal dystonia
• khat
• task-specific dystonia