Neurologists' views on communication in conversion disorder and feigning
| N (%) | |
| Which model do you use to explain conversion disorder, if patients ask? | |
| Effects of stress on the nervous system | 119 (34) |
| Subconscious behaviour | 94 (27) |
| Disorder of brain function | 45 (13) |
| Mind over matter | 12 (4) |
| I can't explain it | 10 (3) |
| Other (or several of the above) | 67 (19) |
| Do you refer to psychological factors when explaining your diagnosis in conversion patients—if they seem open to it? | |
| Always | 203 (58) |
| Usually | 130 (38) |
| Rarely | 14 (4) |
| Never | 0 (0) |
| If they seem resistant? | |
| Always | 86 (25) |
| Usually | 200 (58) |
| Rarely | 51 (15) |
| Never | 5 (2) |
| Do you talk about feigning with patients—if you suspect it? | |
| Always | 6 (2) |
| Usually | 54 (16) |
| Rarely | 151 (44) |
| Never | 133 (39) |
| If you're sure of it? | |
| Always | 39 (12) |
| Usually | 69 (20) |
| Rarely | 137 (41) |
| Never | 91 (27) |
| Who should address feigning in your patient?* | |
| Me | 158 (51) |
| The GP | 64 (21) |
| A psychiatrist | 87 (28) |
| The police or some other agency | 49 (16) |
| No-one | 39 (13) |
| Does giving the diagnosis of conversion seem easier now than for those who trained you? | |
| Yes | 168 (51) |
| No | 163 (49) |
| Do you copy letters about your conversion patients to them? | |
| I prefer to | 175 (53) |
| I prefer not to | 154 (47) |
| Do you use ‘codes’ or euphemisms in those letters? | |
| Always | 11 (3) |
| Usually | 101 (31) |
| Rarely | 149 (45) |
| Never | 69 (21) |
| What do you hope the GP will understand by your codes?* | |
| That the patient has a conversion disorder | 155 (45) |
| That their problem is psychological | 156 (45) |
| That there is nothing really wrong with them | 23 (7) |
| Other | 17 (5) |
Percentages are of those answering the question rounded to the nearest whole number.
↵* Scored allowing multiple selections.
GP, general practitioner (primary care physician).