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Results for “Conversion Disorder”

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At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Upper esophageal sphincter tone and reactivity to stress in patients with a history of globus sensation.

Anxiety and abnormal upper esophageal sphincter function have been ascribed ill-defined roles in the etiology of globus sensation. In this study, we examined the psychological profile and effect of acute mental stress (dichotic listening task) on UES tone in seven patients reporting to the clinic with globus sensation and 13 healthy controls. Alterations in heart rate, blood pressure, frontalis EMG, and skin conductance confirmed the effectiveness of the stress test in patients and controls. During resting conditions, UES pressure (mean +/- SE) in patients (40.4 +/- 4.6 mm Hg) did not differ significantly from controls (46.5 +/- 4.7 mm Hg). In response to stress, UES pressure rose by 31% in patients (P = 0.04) and by 25% in controls (P = 0.002). The stress-induced rise in UES pressure in patients (9.5 +/- 3.8 mm Hg) was not significantly different to that observed in controls (11.8 +/- 3.0 mm Hg). Psychological profiles of globus patients presenting to the clinic revealed them to be more introverted, anxious, neurotic, and depressed than normal controls. We conclude that in patients with a history of globus sensation, resting UES pressure and its response to stress is normal. Although individuals presenting to the clinic with globus sensation showed increased levels of psychoneurosis, acute, predictable stress is not a factor in the genesis of globus sensation. UES hyperresponsiveness to other stimuli or subjective intolerance to changes in UES pressure could account for symptoms of globus sensation.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Conversion pain.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Neuro-algodystrophy: a psychiatrist's view.

In this article the syndrome of neuro-algodystrophy is discussed from a psychiatric point of view. First, a review is given of the scarce psychological literature on this subject. Secondly, a retrospective study of 32 neuro-algodystrophy patients, seen in a psychiatric consultation practice, is presented; in nearly all cases of this highly selected group, an obvious time-relation with a significant psychological factor could be determined, and in more than 60%, some kind of affective loss was concerned. Thirdly, some theoretical speculations about these findings are formulated. Finally, it is concluded that the diagnostic and therapeutic contribution of the psychiatrist may be valuable, at least in some cases of neuro-algodystrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Astasia-abasia revealing a primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A 63-year-old woman presented with mild arthralgias and inability to stand and walk without other significant neuropsychiatric abnormality. Neurological explorations showed intrathecal oligoclonal immunoglobulin production in CSF and numerous bright foci at brain MRI. A primary Sjögren's syndrome was concomitantly evidenced and was thought to be the cause of the astasia-abasia symptom by multiple brain involvement. Patient's condition gradually improved with hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroid therapy. Central nervous system involvement by primary Sjögren's syndrome is discussed.

Brain↗
PubMed2000

Familial vasovagal syncope and pseudosyncope: observations in a case with both natural and adopted siblings.

This report describes an 11-year-old girl with recurrent syncope beginning at the age of 2 1/2 years. Her paternal grandmother, father, and three of her five natural siblings had similar symptoms, often linked to emotional upsets. There were three adopted children from a single family, and none of these had syncope. Prior to referral there was an increase in attacks, some with convulsions, but with no other features of epilepsy. Vasovagal syncope was confirmed. However, continuous electroencephalogram, blood pressure, and heart rate recordings during attacks indicated that in some episodes there was neither cardiovascular change nor epileptiform activity, implying feigned syncope (pseudosyncope) with pseudoseizures. A psychological origin was sought, found, and in part rectified. The separation of vasovagal syncope from pseudosyncope, in the context of the family history, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Functional stridor diagnosed by the anaesthetist.

While stridor is an ominous sign implying severe airway stenosis, not all stridor has an organic aetiology. We present two cases of functional stridor in which the diagnosis was made by the anaesthetist. As experts in the management of difficult airways, anaesthetists should be aware of this clinical entity. Recurrent episodes present as aphonia, dysphonia, dyspnoea, apnoea or unconsciousness. Stridor is usually inspiratory. Flow volume loops show a pattern of variable extrathoracic obstruction with diminished peak inspiratory flow. Awake fibreoptic laryngobronchoscopy reveals normal airway anatomy, intense adduction of false and true vocal cords during inspiration and normal vocal cord motion on expiration. Treatment of functional stridor is supportive. The diagnosis of functional stridor demands exclusion of life-threatening airway stenosis of organic aetiology. A high index of suspicion for this clinical entity will reduce the incidence of unnecessary interventions such as tracheal intubation and tracheostomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Molecular pathogenesis of MDS.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are considered to be a family of clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem cells that are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and susceptibility to acute myelogenous leukemias, and are shown to be strikingly refractory to current therapeutic modalities. A substantial proportion of these complex diseases arise in the setting of exposures to environmental or occupational toxins, including cytotoxic therapy for a prior malignancy or other disorder. The conversion of a normal stem cell into a preleukemic and ultimately leukemic state is a multistep process requiring the accumulation of a number of genetic lesions. On the genomic level, MDS is typified by losses and translocations involving certain key gene segments, with disruption of the normal structure and function of genes that control the balance of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic precursors. More than a half of the chromosomal abnormalities in MDS comprise deletions of chromosomes 5, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 20. This evidence suggests that as yet unidentified tumor suppressor genes should have important roles in the molecular mechanisms of MDS. Further molecular approaches to such genetic lesions will identify the relevant tumor suppressor genes. Over the past years, major signal transduction molecules were identified and their genetic alterations were extensively analyzed in MDS as well as leukemias. These include receptors for growth factors, RAS signaling molecules, cell cycle regulators, and transcription factors. Among them, notable is transcription factors that regulate both proliferation and differentiation of hematopoitic stem cells. The disruption of the normal flow of the signal transduction pathways involving these molecules translates into ineffective multilineage hematopoiesis and bone marrow failure. Therefore, MDS provides a fertile testing ground on which we could study the molecular dissection implicated in the multistep leukemogenesis.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed2000

[Poriomania chronica?].

Based on a case study and the classic French concept of "monomania," the development of the psychiatric term "poriomania" is discussed. It is suggested that poriomania should still be regarded as a specific psychopathological symptom that can be part of various syndromes. The fate of monomanias is shown using examples whose traits are followed according to modern operationalized classification systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Psychogenic pseudoptosis.

Three patients with psychogenic pseudoptosis of one eyelid are reported. All showed depression of the eyebrow on the affected side. The clinical course varied: in two patients the symptom resolved spontaneously after positive reassurance; in the third patient it remained unchanged for 2 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Conversion reaction: management by the paediatrician.

UNLABELLED: We describe the diagnosis and management of 47 children with conversion reaction seen during the past 9 years in our outpatient department. Some illustrative cases are reported in detail. The study shows that conversion reactions in children can often be accurately diagnosed by detailed history and physical examination. When the diagnosis was made early and presented with certainty, both parental acceptance and the child's recovery were easier, and the need for expensive and unnecessary diagnostic procedures was eliminated. Immediate intervention by the paediatrician prevented perpetuation of the problem, secondary gains and continuing family stress. Most of the patients recovered after a few days without recurrence. The major role of the paediatrician is emphasized. Co-operation between the patients, parents and the paediatrician is important, as is close follow up. CONCLUSION: Paediatricians cope successfully with children with conversion reaction with early diagnosis and immediate intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Hysteria. Pretending to be sick and its consequences.

Hysteria, as it involves the medical profession, is a form of sickness that is defined as being without disease or illness. This lack of a biomedical explanation has limited progress in its understanding. In this essay we propose that hysteria might be better thought of as a form of pretending, elaborated in transaction with the medical system. In medicine, to pretend usually means to deceive. From the perspective of play, however, pretend is a state more akin to acting, magic, belief, and hypnosis. We provide a number of reasons why sickness is an attractive focus for pretending. We show how enactments of sickness can be scripted by a group of involved persons, each contributing from their own perspective, as occurs in the parlour game of 'Consequences', except in hysteria the consequences are often dire.

Child↗