Psychological misinterpretations in the diagnosis of acute dystonia

Pisa syndrome mistaken for conversion in an adolescent

We present a case of acute dystonia in an adolescent, with features that fit the description of the Pisa syndrome. The symptoms developed postoperatively, in a non-psychiatric setting, following administration of antiemetic medication, and the phenomenon was misdiagnosed as a conversion disorder. This case reinforces previous reports cautioning against misinterpretation of dystonic reactions as functional disorders, especially in children and adolescents.