Motor conversion disorder. A prospective 2- to 5-year follow-up study

Psychosomatics. 1998 Nov-Dec;39(6):519-27. doi: 10.1016/S0033-3182(98)71284-8.

Abstract

In this prospective study, 30 patients with motor conversion disorder were assessed for key psychiatric and demographic variables. At reassessment 2 to 5 years later, 19 patients had completely recovered and 8 patients had improved, whereas only 3 were unchanged or worse. Contrary to other follow-up studies, none of the patients received a rediagnosis of neurological disease. The presence of a personality disorder and overall personality pathology, particularly within cluster C, the presence of a concomitant somatic disease, low DSM-IV Axis V score, and high score on the Becks Hopelessness Scale proved to be associated with poor outcome.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Conversion Disorder / classification
  • Conversion Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Movement Disorders* / psychology
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Terminology as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome