Conversion disorder in a neurological emergency department: Restrospective series

• Published in: Journal of acute disease 2017-09, Vol.6 (5), p.218-221
• Main Authors: Cardozo, Alejandro, Rubiano, Maria-Alejandra, Garces, Giovanny, Giraldo, Jaime-Andres, Bareño, Jose
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Clinical; Conversion disorder; Diagnosis; Emergency medical services; Hospital emergency services; Neurological symptoms; Women's health
• ISSN: 2221-6189; 2221-6189
• DOI: 10.4103/2221-6189.219617

Objective: To observe the conversion disorder in a neurological emergency department. Methods: It is common that the initial approach to this patients include the use of various diagnostic exams. In this series we reviewed 94 patients that arrived a neurological emergency room in a 3 year period. Results: 72 patients were females (76%), and the initial presumptive diagnosis were: neurovascular syndrome in 36 patients (38.3%), convulsive disorder in 20 patients (21.28%), and conversive disorder in 8 patients (8.51%). 82 patients had motor symptoms and 61 sensitive symptoms. 88 patients (93%) required neuroimaging studies, 77 (81%) patients underwent through basic biochemical panels. Other tests performed were:electroencephalogram in 12 patients (12.77%), electromyography in 11 patients (11.7%), lumbar punction in 8 patients (8.04%) and regarding the medical consult in the care of these patients 11 were evaluated by 1 specialists, 35 (37.2%) by 2 different specialties, 42 (44.63%) patients required evaluation by 3, and 6 patients (6.38%) required evaluation by 4 different specialties. Conclusions: Based on this data, we conclude that conversion disorders require a lot of resources in the emergency room and that the similarities with neurological diseases demands a complete workup including expensive diagnostic tools. However, this patients can be discharged safely without requiring hospitalization.