La belle indifférence in conversion symptoms and hysteria: systematic review

Self-reported anterograde memory loss in older persons that is not validated on neuropsychological assessment: Considerations for a dissociative diagnosis

The past decade has witnessed amplified public awareness of age-related dementias. This has resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of older persons referred to memory clinics with a primary complaint of self-reported memory loss without an antecedent neurological event (e.g., stroke) who produce neuropsychological test profiles that lack evidence of such impairment. Since the latter part of the 19th century, a confusing array of changing terminology, criteria, and perceived causation have been ascribed to patients with unverified medical symptoms to implicate psychological causation. Such terms are often misperceived by laypersons as reflecting character flaws or malingering. Of import for clinical neuropsychologists, the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases added cognitive to symptoms eligible for a diagnosis of the modern formulation, dissociative neurological symptom disorder. One dissociative option for referrals with self-reported neurocognitive symptoms not validated on neuropsychological testing is functional memory disorder, conceived as a psychological disorder where emotional distress is plausibly related to the perceived memory loss but is of less severity than would warrant a major depressive or anxiety diagnosis. If evidence of psychological distress or behavioral impairment is not present the referral likely reflects the increased public awareness of age-related dementias interacting with the high base rate of self-perceived memory loss in the general population. In such cases, a dissociative diagnosis should be avoided as there is evidence of neither a medical nor a psychological disorder. A summary statement of not dementia or similar is likely sufficient to help the patient.

'Functional hyperthermia': a historical overview

The management of low-grade fever in adults has not been codified. This gap is related not only to the numerous possible aetiologies but also to the difficulty of escaping the monocausal model of diseases. This article explores the complex issue of positive signs in 'psychogenic fever' through Reimann's 1930s series. The discussion emphasises Canguilhem's positions regarding vital signs and proposes (1) a semantic clarification of 'habitual hyperthermia' and (2) an amendment of the Belgian diagnostic criteria based on the concept of functional disorder. This paper also suggests following Peirce's pragmatism in the face of an uncommon clinical picture.

Diagnosis and Management of Functional Tic-Like Phenomena

Over the past 3 years, a global phenomenon has emerged characterized by the sudden onset and frequently rapid escalation of tics and tic-like movements and phonations. These symptoms have occurred not only in youth known to have tics or Tourette syndrome (TS), but also, and more notably, in youth with no prior history of tics. The Tourette Association of America (TAA) convened an international, multidisciplinary working group to better understand this apparent presentation of functional neurological disorder (FND) and its relationship to TS. Here, we review and summarize the literature relevant to distinguish the two, with recommendations to clinicians for diagnosis and management. Finally, we highlight areas for future emphasis and research.

Psychogenic Ptosis

PURPOSE

Psychogenic ptosis is a rare ophthalmic manifestation of conversion disorder. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical parameters, etiology, psychological, and clinical aspects of psychogenic ptosis.

METHODS

A retrospective case series was conducted of patients with psychogenic ptosis seen between 1990 to 2020. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, including psychiatric history, clinical findings, diagnostic studies, treatment, and resolution rates. A literature review was performed to identify cases of psychogenic ptosis previously published between 1990 and 2020.

RESULTS

Six female patients (aged 14-60 years) were diagnosed with unilateral psychogenic ptosis. Physical trauma preceded the onset of ptosis in all cases. Imaging studies had been previously obtained in all patients, none of who were correctly diagnosed at time of referral. Associated signs included concurrent brow ptosis, orbicularis oculi spasm, squint on upgaze, and variable levator function and eyelid margin measurements. Four patients had preexisting psychological conditions. Patients were primarily managed with reassurance.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychogenic ptosis is an often delayed or misdiagnosed condition, resulting in unnecessary referrals and imaging. Psychogenic ptosis should be considered in patients with atypical findings of ptosis including ipsilateral brow depression, orbicularis oculi spasm, squint on upgaze, and variable eyelid measurements. A prior history of minor trauma and female sex were common in this series. Our experience suggests that psychogenic ptosis can often be treated with reassurance, leading to partial or complete resolution. Given the number of patients with comorbid psychiatric conditions, the authors recommend a low threshold for psychiatric or psychological evaluation.

Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the clinical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and to enhance the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of epilepsy.

METHODS

This retrospective case series included patients diagnosed with PNES between December 2003 and February 2019 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. We used International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes for screening, and relevant medical records were reviewed. Experienced pediatric neurologists diagnosed PNES based on clinical manifestations, and occasionally on confirmatory video-electroencephalography (EEG) or simultaneous scalp-EEG during the paroxysmal attack. General information, clinical manifestations, psychological conditions, and relevant laboratory or imaging test results were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (mean age, 13 years 8 months) were evaluated, 9 male and 17 female. Ten patients with PNES had a previously established diagnosis of epilepsy. The duration between symptom onset and diagnosis ranged from 1 to 120 (mean, 21; median, 12) days. Sixteen patients showed possible causative psychosocial stressors. Multiple characteristic features or specific clinical manifestations of PNES-that usually differ from epileptic seizures-were observed in all patients with PNES.

CONCLUSION

A detailed evaluation of clinical manifestations and medical history is important for the accurate diagnosis of PNES.

Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders

The diagnosis of functional neurological disorders is a major challenge in neurologist practice. Some clinical strategies can facilitate the recognition of functional disorders, but several pitfalls make their diagnosis difficult. Here we highlight the following points of attention during evaluation of patients with functional disorder: not all bizarre behavior is functional; not every event triggered by an emotional factor is a functional disorder; not every topographic incongruity is a functional disorder; patients may present functional and organic symptoms at the same time; psychiatric comorbid condition is not always evident in the history of a functional disorder; problematic communication at the time of diagnosis can compromise treatment and prognosis. In conclusion, we emphasize that special attention to these possible pitfalls facilitate the correct diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorders.

Diagnosis and Initial Treatment of Functional Movement Disorders in Children

Functional movement disorders (FMD) are complex neurobehavioral disorders that can be a significant source of disability for both children and their caregivers. While FMD in the adult population is better characterized, the aim of this paper is to review the pertinent clinical and historical features, diagnostic criteria, and multi-disciplinary management of FMD in the pediatric population. We highlight recent trends in pediatric FMD, including the increase in functional tic-like behaviors that has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Body Experience and Body Interaction in Psychotherapeutic Diagnostics]

Since they are core features of many mental and psychosomatic disorders, disturbances of body experience and body interaction are relevant to understand and treat a particular patient. There are several body-related constructs, standardized psychometric instruments and experiments, focusing on single facets and following categorized evaluation. However, there is a lack of terminology and methods to individually and situationally understand and use body experience and body interaction in everyday clinical psychotherapeutic diagnostics. Based on clinical experience and a broad, topic-focused literature research, this discussion agenda delineates their core dimensions - bodily perception, body language, bodily changes, body-related narratives and actions, bodily resonance - and how to approach them by observation, mentalization, and relatedness.

Functional neurological disorder in the emergency department

We provide a narrative review of functional neurological disorder (FND, or conversion disorder) for the emergency department (ED). Diagnosis of FND has shifted from a "rule-out" disorder to one now based on the recognition of positive clinical signs, allowing the ED physician to make a suspected or likely diagnosis of FND. PubMed, Google Scholar, academic books, and a hand search through review article references were used to conduct a literature review. We review clinical features and diagnostic pitfalls for the most common functional neurologic presentations to the ED, including functional limb weakness, functional (nonepileptic) seizures, and functional movement disorders. We provide practical advice for discussing FND as a possible diagnosis and suggestions for initial steps in workup and management plans.

Diagnosing functional neurological disorder: seeing the whole picture

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome with many phenotypes that are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Despite the heterogeneity of FND, the rate of misidentification is consistently low. For the more common motor subtypes, there are clear positive clinical, electrophysiological, and rarely imaging criteria that can establish the diagnosis in the traditional sense. For nonmotor subtypes, the characterization may be less clear. Here, we argue that the current diagnostic criteria are not reflective of the current shared neuropsychiatric understanding of FND, and, as a result, provide an incomplete picture of the diagnosis. We propose a three-step diagnostic triad for FND, in which the traditional neurological diagnosis is only the first element. Other steps include psychiatric/psychological formulation, integration, and follow-up. We advocate that this diagnostic approach should be the shared responsibility of neurology and mental health professionals. Finally, a research agenda is proposed to address the missing factors in the field.

Dissociated motor learning and de-adaptation in patients with functional gait disorders

Walking onto a stationary platform that had been previously experienced as moving generates a locomotor after-effect—the so-called ‘broken escalator’ phenomenon. The motor responses that occur during locomotor after-effects have been mapped theoretically using a hierarchal Bayesian model of brain function that takes into account current sensory information that is weighted according to prior contextually-relevant experiences; these in turn inform automatic motor responses. Here, we use the broken escalator phenomenon to explore motor learning in patients with functional gait disorders and probe whether abnormal postural mechanisms override ascending sensory information and conscious intention, leading to maladaptive and disabling gait abnormalities. Fourteen patients with functional gait disorders and 17 healthy control subjects walked onto a stationary sled (‘Before’ condition, five trials), then onto a moving sled (‘Moving’ condition, 10 trials) and then again onto the stationary sled (‘After’ condition, five trials). Subjects were warned of the change in conditions. Kinematic gait measures (trunk displacement, step timing, gait velocity), EMG responses, and subjective measures of state anxiety/instability were recorded per trial. Patients had slower gait velocities in the Before trials (P < 0.05) but were able to increase this to accommodate the moving sled, with similar learning curves to control subjects (P = 0.87). Although trunk and gait velocity locomotor after-effects were present in both groups, there was a persistence of the locomotor after-effect only in patients (P < 0.05). We observed an increase in gait velocity during After trials towards normal values in the patient group. Instability and state anxiety were greater in patients than controls (P < 0.05) only during explicit phases (Before/After) of the task. Mean ‘final’ gait termination EMG activity (right gastrocnemius) was greater in the patient group than controls. Despite a dysfunctional locomotor system, patients show normal adaptive learning. The process of de-adaptation, however, is prolonged in patients indicating a tendency to perpetuate learned motor programmes. The trend to normalization of gait velocity following a period of implicit motor learning has implications for gait rehabilitation potential in patients with functional gait disorders and related disorders (e.g. fear of falling).

Stress- and trauma-related blockade of episodic-autobiographical memory processing

Memory disorders without a direct neural substrate still belong to the riddles in neuroscience. Although they were for a while dissociated from research and clinical arenas, risking becoming forgotten diseases, they sparked novel interests, paralleling the refinements in functional neuroimaging and neuropsychology. Although Endel Tulving has not fully embarked himself on exploring this field, he had published at least one article on functional amnesia (Schacter et al., 1982) and ignited a seminal article on amnesia with mixed etiology (Craver et al., 2014). Most importantly, the research of Endel Tulving has provided the researchers and clinicians in the field of dissociative or functional amnesia with the best framework for superiorly understanding these disorders through the lens of his evolving concept of episodic memory and five long term memory systems classification, which he developed and advanced. Herein we use the classification of long-term memory systems of Endel Tulving as well as his concepts and views on autonoetic consciousness, relationships between memory systems and relationship between episodic memory and emotion to describe six cases of dissociative amnesia that put a challenge for researchers and clinicians due to their atypicality. We then discuss their possible triggering and maintaining mechanisms, pointing to their clinical heterogeneity and multifaceted causally explanatory frameworks.

Personality Disorders as Emergent Interpersonal Syndromes: Psychopathic Personality as a Case Example

Personality disorders have long been bedeviled by a host of conceptual and methodological quandaries. Starting from the assumption that personality disorders are inherently interpersonal conditions that reflect folk concepts of social impairment, the authors contend that a subset of personality disorders, rather than traditional syndromes, are emergent interpersonal syndromes (EISs): interpersonally malignant configurations (statistical interactions) of distinct personality dimensions that may be only modestly, weakly, or even negatively correlated. Preliminary support for this perspective derives from a surprising source, namely, largely forgotten research on the intercorrelations among the subscales of select MMPI/MMPI-2 clinical scales. Using psychopathic personality as a case example, the authors offer provisional evidence for the EIS hypothesis from four lines of research and delineate its implications for personality disorder theory, research, and classification. Conceptualizing some personality disorders as EISs elucidates long-standing quandaries and controversies in the psychopathology literature and affords fruitful avenues for future investigation.

A Case Series from Rantauprapat, La Belle Indifference: A Coping Mechanism or Is There Something Organic Behind?

BACKGROUND

La belle indifference, a term that is inexhaustible to discuss, albeit there is no single definition that best describes the condition. To date, la belle indifference has gotten no place in the DSM-5 criteria for being a distinct entity of mental health issue.

CASE REPORTS

We reported 3 cases with la belle indifference. These patients include a stroke patient with right-sided hemiparesis, a patient suffering from neuropathic pain because of diabetic neuropathy, and a patient with cardiac dyspnea due to chronic heart failure - these three cases presented with a similar clinical profile that is the trigger for developing la belle indifference.

CONCLUSIONS

La belle indifference has varying symptom spectrum, and there is always something called "trigger" to induce it.

From Conversion Disorders to Functional Neurological Disorders. Overcoming the Rule-out Diagnosis?

Functional neurological disorders, formerly referred to as conversion disorders, are a frequent clinical problem in neurology, psychiatry and primary care departments. In the new diagnostic categories, emphasis is placed on the positive characteristics necessary to diagnose this disorder. A narrative review of the scientific medical literature related to the subject was performed in order to determine the differences and advantages that the new classification of functional neurological disorders gives to doctors and patients. Historical, diagnostic, clinical and treatment concepts related to functional neurological disorders are reviewed. The conceptual differences between conversion disorders and functional neurological disorders and the implications of these changes in the clinical approach are identified. The new proposed diagnosis for functional neurological disorders provides the opportunity to transform a diagnosis made by ruling out other pathologies to a diagnosis where the presence of neurological signs suggestive of the disorder are verified and can be taught to the patient, and based on them, treatment strategies posed.

Perception and Impact of Life Events in Medically Hospitalized Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

OBJECTIVES

We describe the prevalence and perceived impact of life events reported by medically hospitalized patients with somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) and highlight patient characteristics and outcomes associated with highly impactful life events.

METHODS

Retrospective chart reviews were conducted of patients with SSRD at a tertiary pediatric hospital who were seen by the psychiatry consultation service and completed various instruments while medically admitted, including a de novo life events checklist. Descriptive statistics, correlations, χ² tests, and internal consistency analyses were used.

RESULTS

Charts of 70.2% of patients with SSRD who completed the life events checklist (N = 172; age range 8-25 years) were reviewed. Of those studied, 94% reported at least 1 life event in the last year, with academic events most prevalent, 81% reported life events across multiple domains, and 56% perceived the life event(s) as having a great impact on their lives. Patients who perceived more great impact life events were older, from households with lower median incomes, had higher self-reported somatization, greater functional disability, more comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, required more psychotropic medications, and had longer medical admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings reveal that although the majority of medically hospitalized patients with SSRD reported at least 1 relevant life event, it was the patients' perception of the impact of the life event(s) that correlated with high levels of disability and health care use. An assessment of the perception of life events in patients with SSRD may help hospitalists and interdisciplinary providers identify high-risk patients for whom early psychiatry referrals can be made.

Clenched fist syndrome: a case report

BACKGROUND

The clenched fist syndrome/psycho-flexed hand, first described in the early 1980s, has not yet entered the major psychiatric textbooks. Curiously, the phenomenon has been illuminated mainly in journals and textbooks on hand surgery. There is a need to examine, describe, and understand this syndrome from a psychiatric perspective.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case we encountered in an intensive care unit. A 60-year-old white man with schizophrenia, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and peripheral neuropathy, developed rather acutely bilateral clenched fists in the aftermath of a traumatic dislocated hip fracture that was operated on. He later died due to complications from the surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

While this was a complex case with some clinical uncertainty regarding the cause of our patient's symptoms, we conclude that psychological processes were central to the development of his clenched fists. The phenomenon of clenched fists and our case are discussed with reference to the accumulated literature on psychogenic hand disorders and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th version. The nosological status appears to be obscure. This case presentation is a first step in increasing the understanding of this syndrome from a psychiatric perspective.

Is there a specific psychiatric background or personality profile in functional dystonia?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify if there was a specific difference between patients with functional dystonia (DysF) and those with adult-onset, isolated idiopathic ("primary") dystonia (DysP) in terms of psychiatric disorders, psychological stressor, dissociation correlates, and personality traits.

METHODS

Thirty-nine clinically definite DysF and 30 DysP patients matched by age, gender and dystonia distribution underwent psychiatric interview based on DSM-5 criteria and additional testings for global cognitive and psychiatric functions (Mini-Mental State Examination, Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Apathy Scale, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, Dissociative Experiences Scale II, and the five-dimensional Revised Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Personality Inventory).

RESULTS

Almost half of our DysF patients had prior psychiatric treatment, which was significantly more frequent when compared to DysP. Patients with DysF in comparison to DysP also had considerably more frequent preceding stress, higher apathy, dissociative and somatoform scores, as well as significantly higher rate of la belle indifférence sign. This sign, stress before dystonia and prior psychiatric disorder independently predicted having DysF. Some of psychiatric disorders (i.e. substance-related disorders, schizophrenia, adjustment disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic depression, delusional disorder) were exclusively present among DysF patients. DysF compared to DysP patients had lower scores for both extroversion and openness to experiences.

CONCLUSION

Our data found different pattern of psychiatric comorbidity and personality traits between DysF and DysP patients, including a higher prevalence of psychological stressor and dissociative correlates, indicating at least a partial role of psychological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of DysF.

Neurologic approaches to hysteria, psychogenic and functional disorders from the late 19th century onwards

The history of functional neurologic disorders in the 20th century from the point of view of the neurologist is U-shaped. A flurry of interest between the 1880s and early 1920s gave way to lack of interest, skepticism, and concern about misdiagnosis. This was mirrored by increasing professional and geographic divisions between neurology and psychiatry after the First World War. In the 1990s the advent of imaging and other technology highlighted the positive nature of a functional diagnosis. Having been closer in the early 20th century but later more separate, these disorders are now once again the subject of academic and clinical interest, although arguably still very much on the fringes of neurology and neuropsychiatry. Revisiting older material provides a rich source of ideas and data for today's clinical researcher, but also offers cautionary tales of theories and treatments that led to stagnation rather than advancement of the field. Patterns of treatment do have a habit of repeating themselves, for example, the current enthusiasm for transcranial magnetic stimulation compared to the excitement about electrotherapy in the 19th century. For these reasons, an understanding of the history of functional disorders in neurology is arguably more important than it is for other areas of neurologic practice.

Functional tremor

Functional tremor is the commonest reported functional movement disorder. A confident clinical diagnosis of functional tremor is often possible based on the following "positive" criteria: a sudden tremor onset, unusual disease course, often with fluctuations or remissions, distractibility of the tremor if attention is removed from the affected body part, tremor entrainment, tremor variability, and a coactivation sign. Many patients show excessive exhaustion during examination. Other somatizations may be revealed in the medical history and patients may show additional functional neurologic symptoms and signs. In cases where the clinical diagnosis remains challenging, providing a "laboratory-supported" level of certainty aids an early positive diagnosis. In rare cases, in which the distinction from Parkinson's disease is difficult, dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) can be indicated.

Functional sensory symptoms

Functional (psychogenic) sensory symptoms are those in which the patient genuinely experiences alteration or absence of normal sensation in the absence of neurologic disease. The hallmark of functional sensory symptoms is the presence of internal inconsistency revealing a pattern of symptoms governed by abnormally focused attention. In this chapter we review the history of this area, different clinical presentations, diagnosis (including sensitivity of diagnostic tests), treatment, experimental studies, and prognosis. Altered sensation has been a feature of "hysteria" since descriptions of witchcraft in the middle ages. In the 19th century hysteric sensory stigmata were considered a hallmark of the condition. Despite this long history, relatively little attention has been paid to the topic of functional sensory disturbance, compared to functional limb weakness or functional movement disorders, with which it commonly coexists. There are recognizable clinical patterns, such as hemisensory disturbance and sensory disturbance finishing at the groin or shoulder, but in keeping with the literature on reliability of sensory signs in neurology in general, the evidence suggests that physical signs designed to make a positive diagnosis of functional sensory disorder may not be that reliable. There are sensory symptoms which are unusual but not functional (such as synesthesia and allochiria) but also functional sensory symptoms (such as complete loss of all pain) which are most unusual and probably worthy of independent study.

Neurobiologic theories of functional neurologic disorders

Although neurobiologic theories to explain functional neurologic symptoms have a long history, a relative lack of interest in the 20th century left them far behind neurobiologic understanding of other illness. Here we review the proposals for neurobiologic mechanisms of functional neurologic symptoms that have been made over time and consider how they might inform our diagnostic and treatment methods, and how they integrate with psychologic formulations of functional symptoms. Modern approaches map on to recent developments in theoretic models of brain function, and suggest a key role for processes affecting attention, beliefs/expectations, and a resultant impairment of sense of agency.

La belle indifférence revisited: a case report on progressive supranuclear palsy misdiagnosed as conversion disorder

BACKGROUND

Since the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, neurological disorders have less often been falsely labeled as conversion disorder (CD). However, misdiagnosis of a neurological disorder as CD still occurs, especially in cases with insidious onset. Misinterpretation of la belle indifférence may contribute to such misdiagnosis. Here, we describe a case of progressive supranuclear palsy/Richardson's syndrome (PSPS) misdiagnosed as a case of CD.

CASE

A 62-year-old woman consulted two different neurologists in 2012 because of falling spells since 2009 and was diagnosed with CD. She was referred to the Clinical Center of Excellence for Body, Mind, and Health for treatment of CD. After neurological examination, blood tests, and psychiatric examination, in which la belle indifférence and a history of incest were found, CD was confirmed. However, despite treatment for CD, the patient's physical symptoms deteriorated over a year. After repeated physical and psychiatric examinations, neurocognitive assessment, and consultation with a third neurologist because of suspicion of neurological disease, the patient was diagnosed with PSPS.

CONCLUSION

La belle indifférence may be a psychological sign in the context of CD, but it may also be an expression of lack of mimic due to Parkinsonism or of eye movement disorder in the context of neurological illness. A diagnosis of CD should not be considered definitive if no improvement occurs in terms of physical, mental, and cognitive symptoms despite appropriate therapy. In case of deterioration, neurological reexamination and reinterpretation of la belle indifférence should be considered.

[Conversion disorder in an internal medicine department: A series of 37 cases]

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical characteristics of a series of patients presenting conversion disorder in a general internal medicine ward and outpatient clinic, the arguments retained by the physicians in favour of the diagnosis, the somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities, the management and the outcome of the disorder.

METHODS

We report the study of 37 patients diagnosed with conversion disorder in an internal medicine department of a French university hospital over a period of 14 years. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of the patients and contacted their primary care physicians to obtain follow-up data. No structured instrument was used for the diagnosis of conversion disorder or for the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities.

RESULTS

As expected, patients were mostly young females, although a great variety of age, gender, and socio-cultural background was observed. Motor symptoms predominated (62%). A relevant psychogenic factor was explicitly mentioned in only 43% of the cases. In many cases, organic disease was also present, and an organic cause for the symptom initially considered as conversion was suspected in 3 cases. Depressive and anxious disorders were present respectively in 38% and 35% of cases. A pain complaint was associated in half of the cases. Among patients for whom follow-up data is available, conversion symptoms persisted or recurred in 70% of cases and were associated with a poor quality of life.

CONCLUSION

This case series confirms that the DSM-IV-TR criterion of "psychogenicity" (later abandoned in DSM-5) is highly problematic in clinical practice. It suggests a close relationship between conversion disorder and unexplained chronic pain.

Assessment of patients with functional neurologic disorders

We describe an overall approach and structure to the clinical assessment of the patient with a functional neurologic disorder. Whilst the primary purpose of the assessment is to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, we believe the assessment also plays a key role in treatment in its own right, as it sets a tone and context for future clinical interactions. We aim to set up an atmosphere of collaboration based on taking the patient's problems seriously, and emphasizing that all facets of the patient's presentation - physical, psychologic, and social - are of importance. Patients with functional disorders can be perceived as difficult to help and yet with the correct approaches we believe the consultation can be much more satisfying for both patient and doctor. Finally, we discuss and list some of the common diagnostic pitfalls in the assessment of functional neurologic disorders, looking at features that lead to erroneous diagnosis of neurologic disease (such as old age, la belle indifférence, and lack of psychiatric comorbidity) and an erroneous diagnosis of a functional disorder (such as "bizarre" gait in stiff-person syndrome).

Functional (dissociative) retrograde amnesia

Retrograde amnesia is described as condition which can occur after direct brain damage, but which occurs more frequently as a result of a psychiatric illness. In order to understand the amnesic condition, content-based divisions of memory are defined. The measurement of retrograde memory is discussed and the dichotomy between "organic" and "psychogenic" retrograde amnesia is questioned. Briefly, brain damage-related etiologies of retrograde amnesia are mentioned. The major portion of the review is devoted to dissociative amnesia (also named psychogenic or functional amnesia) and to the discussion of an overlap between psychogenic and "brain organic" forms of amnesia. The "inability of access hypothesis" is proposed to account for most of both the organic and psychogenic (dissociative) patients with primarily retrograde amnesia. Questions such as why recovery from retrograde amnesia can occur in retrograde (dissociative) amnesia, and why long-term new learning of episodic-autobiographic episodes is possible, are addressed. It is concluded that research on retrograde amnesia research is still in its infancy, as the neural correlates of memory storage are still unknown. It is argued that the recollection of episodic-autobiographic episodes most likely involves frontotemporal regions of the right hemisphere, a region which appears to be hypometabolic in patients with dissociative amnesia.

Anosognosia and anosodiaphoria in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Aims

To evaluate the occurrence of anosognosia (lack of awareness) and anosodiaphoria (insouciance) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to evaluate the influence of a worsening of dementia on these phenomena.

Methods

A self-evaluation scale was used assessing degrees of anosognosia and anosodiaphoria; furthermore, a neuropsychological assessment and statistical analyses with nonparametric tests which could cope with data on an ordinal scale level and small samples were employed.

Results

Cognitive ability was lower in AD (n = 9) than in MCI patients (n = 12), but AD patients self-rated lower cognitive disabilities, which is interpreted as one relative sign of anosognosia in AD. Awareness of the reasons for cognitive problems was also lower in AD, which is considered as another sign of anosognosia. The main pattern in MCI found that the higher the awareness, the lower the cognitive ability. In AD low awareness paralleled low cognitive functioning. Anosodiaphoria was present in AD but not in MCI.

Conclusion

According to the literature anosognosia and anosodiaphoria seem to increase with progression of dementia from MCI as a result of right hemispheric alterations.

Conversive disorders among children and adolescents: towards new "complementarist" paradigms?

This paper aims to describe current questions concerning conversive disorders among children and adolescents. We first describe prevalence and clinical characteristics of these. Many unresolved questions remain. Why do patients show excess, or loss of function? Attachment theory offers a relevant framework to answer this question. Does neurobiology of conversion disorders shed light on conversive processes? Current neurobiological research paradigms focus on the symptom, trying to infer processes, instead of proposing paradigms that test theoretical hypotheses. The most convincing theoretical framework that has already proposed a coherent theory of conversion is a psychodynamic one, which has not yet been tested with neurobiological paradigms. The interest of studying child and adolescent conversive disorders is to provide a means to more deeply investigate the two challenges we face: theoretical, and clinical ones. It provides the opportunity to access a pathopsychological process at its roots, not yet hidden by many defensive, rationalizing attitudes, and to better explore environmental features. We propose a "complementarist" model, which allows the combination of different approaches (neural, cognitive, environmental, attachment, intra-psychic) and permits proposal of different levels of therapeutic targets and means.

Impairments in Episodic-Autobiographical Memory and Emotional and Social Information Processing in CADASIL during Mid-Adulthood

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) - is the most common genetic source of vascular dementia in adults, being caused by a mutation in NOTCH3 gene. Spontaneous de novo mutations may occur, but their frequency is largely unknown. Ischemic strokes and cognitive impairments are the most frequent manifestations, but seizures affect up to 10% of the patients. Herein, we describe a 47-year-old male scholar with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of CADASIL (Arg133Cys mutation in the NOTCH3 gene) and a seemingly negative family history of CADASIL illness, who was investigated with a comprehensive neuropsychological testing battery and neuroimaging methods. The patient demonstrated on one hand severe and accelerated deteriorations in multiple cognitive domains such as concentration, long-term memory (including the episodic-autobiographical memory domain), problem solving, cognitive flexibility and planning, affect recognition, discrimination and matching, and social cognition (theory of mind). Some of these impairments were even captured by abbreviated instruments for investigating suspicion of dementia. On the other hand the patient still possessed high crystallized (verbal) intelligence and a capacity to put forth a façade of well-preserved intellectual functioning. Although no definite conclusions can be drawn from a single case study, our findings point to the presence of additional cognitive changes in CADASIL in middle adulthood, in particular to impairments in the episodic-autobiographical memory domain and social information processing (e.g., social cognition). Whether these identified impairments are related to the patient's specific phenotype or to an ascertainment bias (e.g., a paucity of studies investigating these cognitive functions) requires elucidation by larger scale research.

Caloric vestibular stimulation as a treatment for conversion disorder: a case report and medical hypothesis

Conversion disorder is a medical condition in which a person has paralysis, blindness, or other neurological symptoms that cannot be clearly explained physiologically. To date, there is neither specific nor conclusive treatment. In this paper, we draw together a number of disparate pieces of knowledge to propose a novel intervention to provide transient alleviation for this condition. As caloric vestibular stimulation has been demonstrated to modulate a variety of cognitive functions associated with brain activations, especially in the temporal-parietal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and insular cortex, there is evidence to assume an effect in specific mental disorders. Therefore, we go on to hypothesize that lateralized cold vestibular caloric stimulation will be effective in treating conversion disorder and we present provisional evidence from one patient that supports this conclusion. If our hypothesis is correct, this will be the first time in psychiatry and neurology that a clinically well-known mental disorder, long considered difficult to understand and to treat, is relieved by a simple or common, non-invasive medical procedure.

Differentiating cerebral ischemia from functional neurological symptom disorder: a psychosomatic perspective

BACKGROUND

The differential diagnosis of pseudo-neurological symptoms often represents a clinical challenge. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5, made an attempt to improve diagnostic criteria of conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder). Incongruences of the neurological examination, i.e. positive neurological signs, indicate a new approach--whereas psychological factors are not necessary anymore. As the DSM-5 will influence the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-11, this is of importance. In the case presented, a history of psychological distress and adverse childhood experiences coexisted with a true neurological disorder. We discuss the relevance of an interdisciplinary assessment and of operationalized diagnostic criteria.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 32-year-old man presented twice with neurological symptoms without obvious pathological organic findings. A conversion disorder was considered early on at the second admission by the neurology team. Sticking to ICD-10, this diagnosis was not supported by a specialist for psychosomatic medicine, due to missing hints of concurrent psychological distress in temporal association with neurological symptoms. Further investigations then revealed a deep vein thrombosis (though D-dimers had been negative), which had probably resulted in a crossed embolus.

CONCLUSION

The absence of a clear proof of biological dysfunction underlying neurological symptoms should not lead automatically to the diagnosis of a conversion disorder. In contrast, at least in more complex patients, the work-up should include repeated psychological and neurological assessments in close collaboration. According to ICD-10 positive signs of concurrent psychological distress are required, while DSM-5 emphasizes an incongruity between neurological symptoms and neurophysiological patterns of dysfunction. In the case presented, an extensive medical work-up was initially negative, and neither positive psychological nor positive neurological criteria could be identified. We conclude, that, even in times of more sophisticated operationalization of diagnostic criteria, the interdisciplinary assessment has to be based on an individual evaluation of all neurological and psychosocial findings. Prospective studies of inter-rater reliability and validity of psychological factors and positive neurological signs are needed, as evidence for both is limited. With respect to ICD-11, we suggest that positive neurological as well as psychological signs for functional neurological symptom disorder should be considered to increase diagnostic certainty.

Problems with diagnosing Conversion Disorder in response to variable and unusual symptoms

Conversion Disorder (CD) is a diagnosis offered to explain signs and symptoms that do not correspond to recognized medical conditions. Pediatric patients with variable, vague, and multisystem complaints are at increased risk for being diagnosed with CD. Little is known about the impact of such a diagnosis. In making such diagnoses, it is likely that pediatric providers hope to encourage patients to access mental health care, but no basis exists to show that these diagnoses result in such access in any useful way. This article presents the case of a child with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, who had been previously (incorrectly) diagnosed with CD and referred for mental health care. It offers commentary based on interviews with other pediatric patients with similar experiences - conducted in collaboration with the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation. These cases indicate that CD diagnoses can seriously undermine patients' trust in doctors, and can create such defensiveness that it may interfere with (especially) patients' abilities to engage with mental health services. Such interference is an important problem, if the diagnosis is accurate. But, in the (more likely) event that it is not accurate, this defensiveness can interfere with both important mental health care and further ongoing necessary medical care.

Dissociative paraplegia after epidural anesthesia: a case report

Introduction

Clinicians are confronted with considerable difficulties in diagnosing conversion disorders such as dissociative paraplegia. In the literature, there is still no sufficient evidence regarding a typical pattern or general characteristics for this neuropsychiatric syndrome. Over the last decades case reports have described patients with similar personality traits, psychopathological characteristics, history and symptoms.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 67-year-old Caucasian woman of high economic status and educational level with no psychopathological symptoms and no history of mental disorders who developed dissociative paraplegia after epidural anesthesia. The neurological examination revealed incongruous features, and repeated spine magnetic resonance imaging was normal. Three years earlier the patient had transient paralysis of her left lower limb without detectable cause.

Conclusion

We identified an association between stressful life events and neurological anomalies. Crucial for the diagnosis of dissociative paraplegia is the neurological examination. Our case demonstrates that lack of psychopathological features and previous psychiatric diagnosis are not sufficient to exclude dissociative paraplegia. In patients with incongruous neurological findings and absent neurobiological correlates, clinicians should consider the presence of conversion disorders such as dissociative paraplegia.

[Somatoform disorders in neurology visits: history and circumstances: retrospective study of 124 cases]

We report 124 cases of somatoform disorders, considering psychogenic disorders at the same level as neurological disorders. We noted any psychic, somatic or social condition (history taking) and facilitating circumstances. The patients were aged 16 to 84 years old; 71.7% were women. We observed pain (35.4%), psychogenic headache (25%), sensorimotor loss (27.4%), gait and psychogenic tremor (17.7%), cognitive disorders (11.8%), ocular symptoms (7.2%), and urogenital symptoms (2.4%). Delay to consultation ranged from a few days to 20 years. Psychiatric comorbidity was noted in 30.6% of the cases. In 55.6% of 124 cases, we observed a psychological background. It was a childhood trauma in 15.3% of these cases. In one-third of the 124 situations, we noted an underlying somatic or social condition. Facilitation conditions were frequently mixed. Somatic and/or psychological conditions were noted in one-third of the 124 cases and social conditions in half of them. The neurologist is faced with the challenge of naming the symptom (most often labelled a functional disorder) and of making the decision to stop or limit investigations. Visits by patients with psychogenic disorders make up a significant percentage of neurology speciality appointments. The neurologist should not limit the consultation to differentiating "real" symptoms from psychogenic somatoform disorders, but should also propose a straightforward compassionate approach for effective therapeutic care. By carefully listening to the patient's dialogue, the neurologist can help the patient give meaning to the symptoms, and progress towards improved well-being.

Towards solving the riddle of forgetting in functional amnesia: recent advances and current opinions

Remembering the past is a core feature of human beings, enabling them to maintain a sense of wholeness and identity and preparing them for the demands of the future. Forgetting operates in a dynamic neural connection with remembering, allowing the elimination of unnecessary or irrelevant information overload and decreasing interference. Stress and traumatic experiences could affect this connection, resulting in memory disturbances, such as functional amnesia. An overview of clinical, epidemiological, neuropsychological, and neurobiological aspects of functional amnesia is presented, by preponderantly resorting to own data from patients with functional amnesia. Patients were investigated medically, neuropsychologically, and neuroradiologically. A detailed report of a new case is included to illustrate the challenges posed by making an accurate differential diagnosis of functional amnesia, a condition that may encroach on the boundaries between psychiatry and neurology. Several mechanisms may play a role in "forgetting" in functional amnesia, such as retrieval impairments, consolidating defects, motivated forgetting, deficits in binding and reassembling details of the past, deficits in establishing a first person autonoetic connection with personal events, and loss of information. In a substantial number of patients, we observed a synchronization abnormality between a frontal lobe system, important for autonoetic consciousness, and a temporo-amygdalar system, important for evaluation and emotions, which provides empirical support for an underlying mechanism of dissociation (a failure of integration between cognition and emotion). This observation suggests a mnestic blockade in functional amnesia that is triggered by psychological or environmental stress and is underpinned by a stress hormone mediated synchronization abnormality during retrieval between processing of affect-laden events and fact-processing.