Anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with conversion disorder

ABSTRACT

To determine symptom pattern of conversion disorder and its association with co-existent anxiety and depressive symptoms. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Services Hospital, Lahore from August 2003 to January 2004. One hundred patients, suffering from conversion disorder, diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, were assessed for severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms by using hospital anxiety and depression scale [HADS]. A semi-structured interview was used for demographic details. Anxiety was seen to be present in 35% of cases, depression in 29% and 31% of the patients had both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Overall co-morbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in conversion disorder was high i.e. 95% and only 5% of the patients were without any co-morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. A significant association was found between depressive and sensory symptoms [p=<0.05] in patients with conversion disorders. The patients with a diagnosis of conversion disorder need to be managed for anxiety and depressive symptoms appropriately for better outcome: