Diagnosis and rehabilitation strategies for patients with hysterical hemiparesis: a report of four cases. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Conversion disorder is a psychological disturbance that produces subconscious alterations in sensorimotor function. Hysterical hemiparesis is a relatively rare, and difficult to diagnose, form of conversion disorder presenting as unilateral motor weakness with or without sensory deficits. We report four patients who required inpatient rehabilitation for hysterical hemiparesis, a diagnosis for which there is little information regarding rehabilitation management. In all cases, an extensive acute care evaluation including multiple imaging studies failed to identify a new neurologic lesion. All patients had rapid functional improvement using functional and behavioral therapies and extensive psychosocial support (mean length of stay of 11 days; mean Functional Independence Measure [FIM] gain of 22; mean discharge FIM of 112), consistent with other published reports of rehabilitation of conversion disorder. Evaluation of these cases reveals consistencies regarding presentation, psychosocial history, and rehabilitation course that can aid clinicians in making the diagnosis. Rehabilitation strategies for hysterical hemiparesis are reviewed.

publication date

  • June 1, 1998

Research

keywords

  • Conversion Disorder
  • Hemiplegia

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0031802226

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90049-1

PubMed ID

  • 9630154

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 79

issue

  • 6