Lateralization of conversion symptoms in children and adolescents

Functional Movement Disorders in Children

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are not uncommon in children. The age at onset may have a bearing on the phenomenological pattern of abnormal movement, risk factors, and response to different treatment modalities in this age group. FMDs in children resemble their adult counterparts in terms of gender preponderance, but risk factors are quite different, and often influenced by cultural and demographic background. FMDs contribute to a significant proportion of acute pediatric movement disorder patients seen in emergency settings, ranging from 4.3 to 23% in different case series. The most common movement phenomenologies observed in pediatric FMDs patients are tremor, dystonia, gait disturbances, and functional tics. Various social, physical, and familial precipitating factors have been described. Common social risk factors include divorce of parents, sexual abuse, bullying at school, examination pressure, or other education-related issues, death of a close friend, relative, or family members. Physical trauma like minor head injury, immunization, tooth extraction, and tonsillectomy are also known to precipitate FMDs. The response to treatment appears to be better among pediatric patients. We aim to review FMDs in children to better understand the different aspects of their frequency, clinical features, precipitating factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

Psychogenic Equinovarus Caused by Dislocation of the Chopart Joint Complex

Patients with conversion disorder (CD) present with weakness or unexplained movement disorder that may evolve from inciting psychological events, but presentation with rigid deformity is rare. Only one case of CD presenting as foot deformity with atraumatic rigid psychogenic equinovarus has been reported previously. Here we describe a rare case of psychogenic equinovarus in a physically healthy 10-year-old boy. He had noticed left equinovarus deformity upon waking abruptly but had no history of preceding trauma and no relevant medical history. Computed tomography (CT) images revealed dislocation of the left Chopart joint complex, but clinical examination did not suggest an organic neurologic disorder. On further history taking, he reported that he was under psychological stress because of being required to play baseball against his will. When he was given permission to withdraw from this stressful situation, the equinovarus improved without the need for surgical invention. This report highlights the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of psychogenic equinovarus, so that unnecessary surgery can be avoided. This is the first report of psychogenic equinovarus caused by dislocation of the Chopart joint complex that was confirmed with CT.

Chiropractic Care of a 10-Year-Old Boy With Nonorganic Gait Disorder: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this case report is to describe the multidisciplinary management of a boy with nonorganic gait disorder.

CLINICAL FEATURES

A 10-year-old boy presented to a chiropractic clinic having had a concussion 1 week prior. He presented with lower limb muscle weakness and ataxia while weight bearing. He was referred immediately to the emergency department, from which he was sent to a neurologist at a children's hospital. The neurologist's diagnosis was nonorganic gait disorder.

INTERVENTION/OUTCOME

Treatment consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and a psychiatric assessment. Chiropractic care including manipulative therapy was initiated 6 months after diagnosis. After 1 year, the gait disorder was resolved.

CONCLUSION

The addition of chiropractic care to conventional treatment may have been supportive in the recovery process for this patient. The condition required 1 year to resolve, with questions remaining as to whether the symptom resolution was a result of treatment or natural history.

Psychogenic movement disorders in children: a report of 15 cases and a review of the literature

Data on psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) in children are scarce, with most existing literature relating to adults only. We report 15 cases with the aim of highlighting the clinical characteristics, risk factors, comorbidity, treatment, outcome, and prognosis of PMD in children. Only 13% of cases had onset before age 10, with the mean age at onset being 12.3 years. Females were predominantly affected (F:M = 4:1). The most common types of movement disorders seen were dystonia (47%), tremor (40%), and gait disorders (13%). Multiple hyperkinetic phenomenologies were observed in many cases. Abrupt onset and precipitation by minor injuries, and stressful life events were commonly reported. Clinical clues on examination suggesting a psychogenic origin were similar to those identified in adults. A distinct feature of PMD in children was the predominant involvement of the dominant limb. The underlying psychiatric diagnosis was conversion disorder in the majority of cases. Time from symptom onset until diagnosis of a PMD varied broadly (between 2 weeks and 5 years). Treatment with cognitive and behavioral therapy and rehabilitation by a multidisciplinary team led to improvement in most cases. However, treatment was much more effective in children with a short time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment.

Psychogenic movement disorders in children

A common problem in neurology is the existence of disorders that present with neurologic symptoms but do not have an identifiable neurologic basis. These disorders are often thought to have a psychologic basis. Abnormal movements are among the most frequent symptoms in psychogenic neurologic disorders. Although these disorders have not been studied extensively in children, clinical experience in our busy pediatric movement disorders clinic and many case reports support their existence in this age group. Elements of history, physical examination, and therapeutic intervention must be combined to construct a clear diagnosis of a psychogenic movement disorder. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders and includes two illustrative cases. Review of the current literature reveals a need for prospective trials to provide a solid foundation for better diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

Psychogene Lähmungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Zusammenfassung: Am Beispiel vorliegender klinischer Studien aus der Literatur werden die Charakteristika der psychogenen Lähmung im Kindes- und Jugendalter erarbeitet. Anhand einer Übersicht wird zunächst der Wandel in der diagnostischen Einordnung der psychogenen Lähmung von der ICD-6 bis zur ICD-10 dargestellt. Weiterhin werden die epidemiologischen Daten aus der Literatur referiert. Die psychogene Lähmung bei Kindern und Jugendlichen zeigt innerhalb der dissoziativen Störungen in dieser Altersgruppe eine charakteristische Alters- und Geschlechtsverteilung, sowie eine gute Prognose. Eine besondere Rolle für die Genese der psychogenen Lähmungen und Gangstörungen spielen invasive iatrogene diagnostische und therapeutische Eingriffe, körperliche Traumata, Infekterkrankungen und Modellerkrankungen.

The question of symptom lateralization in conversion disorder

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not conversion symptoms are lateralized. Studies have shown a predominant left-oriented manifestation of symptoms for most somatoform disorders. The reports in the literature on the lateralization of conversion symptoms, however, are rather conflicting. They show left-sided, right-sided, or no symptom lateralization in conversion disorders.

METHODS

One hundred fourteen patients with conversion disorder were screened for symptom lateralization.

RESULTS

Those patients with unilateral symptoms (32.5%) showed no significant bias toward left or right symptom presentation.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results, and the conflicting findings from previous studies, we conclude that there is insufficient support for lateralization theories in conversion disorder.

Laterality in somatization

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether there is a lateralized pattern in somatic symptoms related to emotional disturbances.

METHOD

Sixty-one patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and somatization disorders were examined for the lateralized distribution of somatic symptoms in the body and its relationship to the severity of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

The chief somatic symptoms presented significantly more on the left side than on the right side of the body. Headache and other forms of pain, especially, occurred more on the left side. There was no significant difference between left-sided and right-sided groups in demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The scores on Hamilton's anxiety scale or Hamilton's depression scale were higher in the left-sided group than the right-sided group, although the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the right hemisphere of the brain is more involved then the left with somatization symptom formation related to emotional disturbances.

Intractable sneezing as a conversion symptom

A literature review of reported cases of intractable sneezing reveals that intractable sneezing typically occurs in children or adolescents and is a manifestation of conversion disorder. Analysis of these cases demonstrates a number of features that are helpful in differentiating psychogenic from organic sneezing. Also discussed are aspects of patient management once a diagnosis of conversion disorder is established.

An integrated medical and psychiatric approach to conversion symptoms in a four-year-old

Conversion disorder is a challenging diagnosis in children and adolescents. Medical and psychiatric diagnoses need to be evaluated both separately and in relation to each other. This case highlights both the diagnostic criteria for a conversion disorder in a young child and the need for an integrated medical and psychiatric approach by physicians.

Comparative studies of conversion disorders in childhood and adolescence

In a syndrome validation study, four groups of patients suffering from conversion disorders, anxiety states, obsessive-compulsive disorder and emotional disorders, as well as a healthy control group, were compared. The following findings emerged: besides female preponderance and greater age, a higher rate of low SES subjects and social migration patients suffering from conversion disorders displayed a greater proportion of psychiatric and medical diseases in their parental heritage.

Conversion disorder (DSM-III 300.11): symptomatology and course in childhood and adolescence

The incidence, age and sex distribution, symptomatology, psychosocial stress factors and course of conversion symptoms in a child and adolescent psychiatric patient sample were studied. Under the age of 10 conversion symptoms are comparatively rare and consequently require careful diagnosis, particularly regarding visual and hearing defects. Predominant conversion symptoms are seizures, gait problems and paralysis.