Table 1

Symptoms and circumstances reported at onset of functional weakness in 107 cases by mode of onset

Factor at onset	All cases (n=107)		Sudden onset (n=49)		Waking onset (n=16)		Gradual onset (n=42)
Factor at onset	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Panic attack^*	36	34	29	59	4	25	3	7
Dissociative symptoms	27	25	19	39	3	19	5	12
Pain	22	21	4	8	6	38	12	29
Fatigue	14	13	0	0	3	19	11	26
Migraine^†	8	7	5	10	1	6	2	5
Non-epileptic attack	8	7	6	12	0	0	2	5
Sleep paralysis	2	2	0	0	2	13	0	0
Physical injury to relevant limb	11	10	10	20	0	0	1	2
Prolonged bed rest	5	5	1	2	1	6	3	7
General anaesthesia	2	2	0	0	2	13	0	0
First noticed by health professional	6	6	0	0	0	0	6	14
No identifiable factors	20	19	6	12	2	13	12	29

↵* Fulfilling DSM-IV criteria for a panic attack.
↵† Fulfilling International Headache Society criteria for migraine or migraine with aura.