Birth order, family size and its association with conversion disorders

ABSTRACT

To find out the association of family size and birth order in patients suffering from conversion disorder, and to observe its correlation with pattern of conversion symptoms and co morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. This was a hospital based, 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 symptom pattern. A semi-structured interview was used to collect details of family size and birth order. Anxiety and Depressive symptoms were evaluated by using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]. The majority of the patients were having 4-6 siblings. A strong correlation was found between the larger sized family and the middle born patients with the pattern of the conversion symptoms as well as with the anxiety and depressive symptoms. The patients with a diagnosis of conversion disorder need to be managed for, not only the psychological aspects but also the social issues like family size and stresses associated with it