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Prevalence of pseudoneurologic conversion disorder in an urban community in Manisa, Turkey

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Abstract

Background

There is not a wide agreement upon rate of conversion disorder within Turkish population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits and related risk factors in a city.

Method

In total, 1,086 people, aged 15–65 years old, were selected from the city of Manisa, Turkey to take part in the study. We applied sociodemographic and health information questionnaires and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Somatization Subscales to the samples.

Results

The likelihood that an individual might have conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits was found to be 5.6% (= 61). The prevalence of conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits was significantly higher among women (p < 0.0001), 15–24 year old women (= 0.011) and 25–34 year old women (= 0.003), people who live as squatters (= 0.03), those with a history of psychiatric disorder (p < 0.0001) and those having a mother with a psychiatric disorder (= 0.04).

Conclusion

This study has shown the conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits is inadequately frequent in the population.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Izmir Psychiatry Association and The Celal Bayar University Research Fund.

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Correspondence to Artuner Deveci.

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Deveci, A., Taskin, O., Dinc, G. et al. Prevalence of pseudoneurologic conversion disorder in an urban community in Manisa, Turkey. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 42, 857–864 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0233-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0233-9

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