Papel del servicio de prevención en el diagnóstico de la patología mental para una adecuada integración laboral / Role of the prevention service in the diagnosis of mental pathology for an adequate occupational integration

Las enfermedades mentales tienen especial relevancia tanto por su elevada prevalencia en el momento actual como por sus consecuencias en diferentes ámbitos de la vida. En este artículo se presenta un caso clínico de un trabajador diagnosticado de trastorno conversivo que es evaluado por parte del servicio de prevención con el fin de establecer la aptitud laboral. El conocimiento de la clínica, diagnóstico y abordaje de estos trastornos conjunta y coordinadamente por el servicio de prevención de riesgos labores, mandos directos y otros especialistas es el pilar fundamental para conseguir una adecuada adaptación del puesto de trabajo, así como una integración laboral siempre que se cumplan las restricciones especificadas en el informe de aptitud. (AU)

Mental illnesses are particularly relevant both because of their high prevalence at the present time and because of their consequences in different areas of life. This article presents a clinical case of a worker diagnosed with conversion disorder who is evaluated by the prevention service in order to establish work aptitude. Knowledge of the clinic, diagnosis and approach to these joint and coordinated disorders by the occupational risk prevention service, direct managers and other specialists is the fundamental pillar to achieve an adequate adaptation of the job, as well as labor integration whenever the restrictions specified in the suitability report are met. (AU)

¿Qué piensan los estudiantes de Medicina sobre los trastornos neurológicos funcionales? / What do medical students think about functional neurological disorders?

Introducción: Los trastornos neurológicos funcionales (TNF) son un motivo de consulta frecuente en neurología. Sin embargo, la formación específica sobre estos trastornos durante la formación universitaria y el período de residencia es limitada. En este estudio se evalúan los conocimientos, la actitud y la exposición de los estudiantes de Medicina a los TNF antes de terminar el grado de Medicina. Sujetos y métodos: Realizamos una encuesta de 15 ítems para explorar la comprensión, la exposición y las actitudes hacia los TNF entre los estudiantes de Medicina de sexto año en cuatro universidades españolas. Resultados: Devolvieron la encuesta 118 estudiantes (edad media 23,6 ± 1,2 años; 71,2%, mujeres). De ellos, 88 (74,6%) conocían el concepto de TNF y 78 (66,1%) los habían estudiado en las clases de psiquiatría. El 54,1% de los estudiantes eligió el término ‘psicosomático’ como el más adecuado para referirse a estos trastornos, y 111 (94,1%) creían que una historia de abuso sexual o físico era común entre los pacientes con TNF. Cincuenta y siete estudiantes (48,3%) asumieron que el diagnóstico de TNF era mayoritariamente un diagnóstico clínico de exclusión y 63 (53,4%) señalaron que el manejo se realiza únicamente desde psiquiatría. Ciento un estudiantes (85,6%) consideraron que una formación adecuada sobre los TNF es un aspecto importante de su formación médica. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes de Medicina son conscientes de la existencia de los TNF, pero la terminología preferida por ellos, así como los factores etiológicos percibidos, reflejan que la visión histórica acerca de estos trastornos está aún arraigada. Los estudiantes de Medicina consideran que deberían recibir una educación adecuada sobre los TNF como parte de su formación por parte de los especialistas en neurología y psiquiatría.(AU)

Introduction: Functional neurological disorders (FND) are a frequent reason for visits in neurology. However, specific training on these disorders during undergraduate and residency training is limited. This study assesses the knowledge, attitude and exposure of medical students to FNDs before completing their medical degree. Patients and methods: We conducted a 15-item survey to explore understanding, exposure and attitudes towards FNDs among sixth-year medical students at four Spanish universities. Results: A total of 118 students (mean age 23.6 ± 1.2 years; 71.2% female) returned the survey. Of these, 88 (74.6%) were aware of the concept of FNDs and 78 (66.1%) had studied them in psychiatry classes. The term ‘psychosomatic’ was chosen by 54.1% of the students as the most appropriate term to refer to these disorders, and 111 (94.1%) believed that a history of sexual or physical abuse was common among FND patients. Fifty-seven students (48.3%) assumed that the diagnosis of FND was mostly a clinical diagnosis of exclusion and 63 (53.4%) indicated that it is managed only by psychiatry. One hundred and one students (85.6%) considered that adequate training on FNDs is an important aspect of their medical training. Conclusions: Medical students are aware of the existence of FNDs, but their preferred terminology, as well as the perceived aetiological factors, reflect that the historical view of these disorders is still deeply rooted. Medical students feel that they should receive adequate education on FNDs from specialists in neurology and psychiatry as part of their training.(AU)

Trastornos somatomorfos y conversivos en otorrinolaringología pediátrica: revisión de la literatura

Resumen Los trastornos somatomorfos (TS) corresponden a un conjunto de entidades de expresión polimorfa cuya característica común es la relevancia de los síntomas somáticos asociados a un malestar psicológico significativo evidente o no, pero sin una base estructural delimitada. Si la sintomatología se asocia al sistema nervioso se denominan trastornos conversivos (TC). Su etiología tiene una naturaleza multicausal y compleja y se expresan en todos los sistemas del organismo. Los TS y los TC han sido poco estudiados en la otorrinolaringología pediátrica y su enseñanza es escasa en la formación médica. Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática sobre TS y TC en otorrinolaringología pediátrica en las bases de datos PubMed/Medline, SciELO y Cochrane Library. Se incluyeron 49 referencias, principalmente estudios observacionales y revisiones narrativas. Los cuadros clínicos descritos fueron el estridor funcional, la sordera psicógena, el trastorno facticio y el vértigo psicógeno. El proceso diagnóstico requiere de la evaluación otorrinolaringológica y psiquiátrica. En todos los estudios se reconoció que los participantes tenían alguna alteración afectiva prominente, aunque a veces oculta. El análisis del contexto social y escolar, además de los antecedentes familiares de TS, TC o cualquier desorden mental son elementos primordiales. La terapia es multidisciplinaria, incluyendo intervenciones otorrinolaringológicas, fonoaudiológicas, psicológicas y psicofarmacológicas. Sin embargo, la evidencia que sustenta a las intervenciones especializadas es escasa. Los niños, niñas y adolescentes con TS y TC presentan hallazgos clínicos y biológicos que no se presentan en los simuladores. Un adecuado diagnóstico y tratamiento se relacionan con un buen pronóstico.

Abstract Somatoform disorders (SD) make up a group of entities with polymorphic expression, characterized by the relevance of somatic symptoms associated to a significant psychological stress whether or not noticeable, but without a defined structural basis. When the symptomatology is related to the nervous system, they are known as conversion disorders (CD). Their etiology has a multicausal and complex nature, having expressions in all the body systems. SD and CD have been scarcely studied in pediatric otolaryngology and are poorly reviewed during medical training. We performed a systematic search on SD and CD in pediatric otolaryngology in PubMed/Medline, SciELO and Cochrane Library databases. We included 49 references, mostly observational studies and narrative reviews. The most described clinical pictures were functional stridor, psychogenic deafness, factitious disorder, and psychogenic vertigo. The diagnostic process requires otolaryngologic and psychiatric evaluations. All studies showed that participants had some relevant affective alteration, although sometimes unnoticeable. Thus, some essential elements are social and school context, family history of SD or CD or any mental disorder. Therapy involves a multidisciplinary approach, including otolaryngologic, audiological, psychological and psychopharmacological interventions. However, evidence supporting specialized interventions is still scarce. Children and adolescents who suffer from SD and CD show clinical and biological findings which are not found in malingering. Proper diagnosis and treatment are related to a good prognosis.

Eventos no epilépticos psicógenos: El desafío constante de su diagnóstico y tratamiento / Psychogenic non epileptic events: The constant challenge of its diagnosis and treatment

Resumen Los eventos no epilépticos psicógenos (ENEP) son episodios paroxísticos descritos como cambios conductuales, alteraciones sensorio-sensitivas, o manifestaciones motoras que se asemejan a las crisis epilépticas pero sin mostrar actividad epileptiforme subyacente, no son producidos deliberadamente por el individuo, y responden a mecanismos multifactoriales de índole biopsicosocial. La información epidemiológica es limitada debido a la naturaleza heterogénea de la población afectada, así como a la escasa accesibilidad al videoelectroencefalograma (vEEG) necesario para su diagnóstico. En este contexto, es necesaria la convergencia de dos elementos importantes: historia clínica detallada (características clínicas sugerentes de ENEP e identificación de los factores asociados) y la ausencia de cambios electroencefalográficos en el vEEG durante el episodio. La evaluación psicológica provee información adicional relevante para la corroboración diagnóstica y para su manejo. El diagnóstico debe realizarse de manera oportuna, para evitar complicaciones en su evolución y tratamiento. Es vital una actitud positiva y alentadora hacia el/la paciente al momento de comunicarle su diagnóstico, así como la coordinación entre el neurólogo tratante y los profesionales de salud mental involucrados en el manejo y seguimiento del caso. La psicoterapia cognitiva conductual, asociada a psicofármacoterapia -cuando pertinente-, constituyen el tratamiento más eficaz de estos pacientes. Existen limitados estudios en Latinoamérica sobre aspectos epidemiológicos y clínico-evolutivos de pacientes con ENEP, por lo que más investigación y publicaciones respecto a esta problemática son indispensables dado su impacto sobre la calidad de vida de los pacientes y sobre el costo de su manejo en los sistemas de salud.

Summary Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Events (PNEE) are paroxysmal episodes described as behavioral changes, sensory- sensitive disturbances, or motor manifestations that resemble epileptic seizures without showing underlying epileptiform activity, are not deliberately produced by the individual, and respond to multifactorial biopsychosocial mechanisms. Epidemiological information is limited due to the heterogeneous nature of the affected population, and to the limited accessibility to the video electroencephalogram (vEEG) necessary for its diagnosis. In such context, the convergence of two important elements is necessary: a detailed clinical history (clinical characteristics suggestive of PNEE, and identification of the associated factors), and the absence of electroencephalographic "ictal" changes in the vEEG. A psychological evaluation provides additional information, relevant for the diagnostic corroboration and management. The diagnosis must be made in a timely manner, to avoid complications in its evolution and treatment. A positive and encouraging attitude to the patient is vital when informing him/her of the diagnosis, as it also is the coordination between the treating neurologist and mental health professionals involved in the management and monitoring of the case. Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, associated with psychopharmacotherapy -when needed-- constitute the most effective treatment approach for these patients. There are limited studies on the current epidemiological and clinical evolution of patients with PNEE in Latin America, and additional research regarding this problem is much needed, given its impact on the quality of life of the patients and on the cost of its management in the health care systems.

[Conversion Disorder in Children and Adolescents]. / Trastorno conversivo en niños y adolescentes.

BACKGROUND: Conversion disorder is diagnosed late, by exclusion and with a high risk of complications. There is a wide experience in adults that is not extrapolated to paediatric patients. According to the literature, the prognosis is better in children, but this changes when other variables such are included, such as comorbidities, late diagnosis and a very convincing social image of the neurological disease. OBJECTIVE: To review the medical literature on the clinical features, diagnosis, comorbidities and treatment of this disorder. METHODS: A literature research was performed on Medline and Pubmed, the terms used were "conversion disorder", pseudoseizures, treatment, clinic, children ("conversion disorder" OR hysteria OR hysterical) (child OR children OR childhood OR pediatric OR paediatric). The most relevant material found is included in this review. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion disorder is often an imprecise diagnosis in high complexity paediatric services. No consensus was found in the literature search on how to treat patients after the initial diagnosis. The evidence that it becomes chronic is not strong enough, just as the evidence is not convincing enough to argue that comorbidity factors are those maintained over time. Clearly, there is no medical experience of the natural history of this disorder in children and adolescents. It is only known is that it is a complex condition, on which there is experience only in the diagnosis and treatment of the acute state, but not so in the long-term care. It is proposed that each patient is studied in detail in order to define the psychiatric diagnosis and its treatment.

Trastorno conversivo en niños y adolescentes / Conversion Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Introducción: Hay una amplia experiencia en adultos que no es extrapolable a los pacientes pediátricos. Se describe en la literatura que el pronóstico de los pequeños es mejor, pero esto cambia cuando incluimos variables tales como comorbilidades, diagnóstico tardío y una imagen social de enfermedad neurológica que es muy convincente. El cuidado y la atención de estos pacientes generan muchos interrogantes. Objetivo: Revisar la literatura médica sobre las características clínicas, el diagnóstico, las comorbilidades y el tratamiento de este trastorno. Métodos:Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en MEDLINE y PubMed de las palabras clave "trastorno conversivo", "pseudocrisis", "tratamiento", "clínica", "niños" ("conversion disorder" OR hysteria OR hysterical) (children OR child OR childhood OR pediatric OR paediatric). Se incluyó en esta revisión el material de mayor relevancia encontrado. Conclusiones: El trastorno conversivo es un diagnóstico impreciso, frecuente en los servicios de pediatría de alta complejidad. En la búsqueda no se encontró consenso sobre cómo actuar en la atención de los pacientes luego del diagnóstico inicial. No es contundente que se cronifique ni es convincente la evidencia para afirmar que los factores de comorbilidad son lo que se mantiene en el tiempo. Es claro que la experiencia médica no dispone de una historia natural de este trastorno en niños y adolescentes. En cambio, se sabe que se trata de un padecimiento complejo, sobre el cual se tiene experiencia en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del estado agudo, pero no en su atención a largo plazo. Se propone que se estudie con detalle a cada paciente para definir el diagnóstico psiquiátrico y su tratamiento.

Background: Conversion disorder is diagnosed late, by exclusion and with a high risk of complications. There is a wide experience in adults that is not extrapolated to paediatric patients. According to the literature, the prognosis is better in children, but this changes when other variables such are included, such as comorbidities, late diagnosis and a very convincing social image of the neurological disease. Objective: To review the medical literature on the clinical features, diagnosis, comorbidities and treatment of this disorder. Methods: A literature research was performed on Medline and Pubmed, the terms used were "conversion disorder", pseudoseizures, treatment, clinic, children ("conversion disorder" OR hysteria OR hysterical) (child OR children OR childhood OR pediatric OR paediatric). The most relevant material found is included in this review. Conclusions: Conversion disorder is often an imprecise diagnosis in high complexity paediatric services. No consensus was found in the literature search on how to treat patients after the initial diagnosis. The evidence that it becomes chronic is not strong enough, just as the evidence is not convincing enough to argue that comorbidity factors are those maintained over time. Clearly, there is no medical experience of the natural history of this disorder in children and adolescents. It is only known is that it is a complex condition, on which there is experience only in the diagnosis and treatment of the acute state, but not so in the long-term care. It is proposed that each patient is studied in detail in order to define the psychiatric diagnosis and its treatment.

Abordaje epidemiológico de un brote de trastorno conversivo epidémico en adolescentes

resumen está disponible en el texto completo

Abstract: Introduction Several outbreaks of Epidemic Conversión Disorder are occurring in different groups of people in the world. Rather than being viewed as a number of people suffering from individual conversion disorder, epidemic hysteria is considered as a social phenomenon involving otherwise healthy people. We received a report letter from Dirección General de Epidemiología, about the existence of a large number of possible food poisoning cases among students, attending morning sessions at a technical high school, located in the downtown area of Mexico City. Twelve students were driven to the Mexican Red Cross Hospital due to fainting. The aims of this study were to determine the cause of such outbreak in a group of adolescents; to get an adequate explanation about the origin of the event; to identify the event dissemination ways and associates risk factors. Methods Study design: A matched case-control study was carried out to identify factors associated with the illness. Two control cases were randomly selected from the list of nonill students for each case. Fifty two cases and 104 controls were included. Hypotheses: Following the good health status determined by the physician at the hospital, we started the initial interview with the students. We reached the following possible hypotheses regarding the origin of this outbreak: first, the event was due to food poisoning; second, to the inhalation of a toxic gas such as carbon monoxide and thirdly, by exposure to high levels of contaminants. Finnaly, it might be a mass event of conversion disorder. Variables: Among the variables included in the study were: sex, age, class group, location of the student at the time of the out-break, and foods eaten during recess and immediately before the outbreak. All the students present at the time of the outbreak were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Laboratory Simultaneously, samples of the food-products sold in and around the school that day were collected for bacteriologic and chemical analyses, the existence of a gas leak, carbon monoxide source, or any other airborne pollutant was investigated by the research team. Analyses: The demographic characteristics were analyzed by descriptive statistic; association between risk factors as possible causes of the event was determined by multivariate analysis at 95% confidence interval. Results: The outbreak occurred in the building of a downtown public school in Mexico City. The school has three floors, surrounding a central yard. There are 11 classrooms, two laboratories, an art workshop and a school medical clinic. The total duration of outbreak was 15 minutes. There were 455 students enrolled in the morning program, all of them were interviewed. A total of 52 cases was identified, among the 455 students, for an attack rate of 11.4%. There were three groups in which no cases were found. The attack rate in girls was 3.9 times higher than in boys. Sixty five percent of the cases occurred in two of the nine classrooms (1° B and 2° A). All the students of one group had been waiting at the patio for over an hour during an interclass break. Case cero was a girl from this group with a previous history of fainting. The outbreak occurred outside class-room in the central yard. Five female classmates of case cero fainted while they were with her in the yard. Cases then spread rapidly to the first floor with an attack rate of 13.2 percent, the second floor had 7.7 percent, and finally the third floor had 2.1 percent. All cases had fainted as per case definition. Additionally, headache was a prominent symptom occurring in 88 percent, paresthesias in 56 percent, and perceived difficulty in moving arms or legs in 35 percent. Also almost a quarter of the cases complained of irritation of the eyes and nose. Within one hour, all had completely recovered. Five days after the problem, three girls fainted; no outbreak occurred. Being a girl or belonging to class groups 1°B or 2°A, were the most significant risk factors, with (p 0.001). Also being less than 15 years of age was a significant risk factor for illness. The analysis of food preference data in the cases and controls showed that drinking a fruit beverage "X" was not related to the illness. Foods such as sandwiches, brought from home and cookies, candies and popcorn bought from street venders, had a borderline significant association with the illness. However, the number of cases attributable to these foods was very low. Also, it was difficult to figure out how sandwiches were prepared by mothers of individual students and how this factor could be implicated. No pathogen toxin or toxic chemical were identified in the food samples. Some foods studied in the crude analysis were ruled out in the multivariate analysis. A thorough environmental was negative, there being no evidence of a continuing gas leak or other causes. The pollution levels during that week were reported as being within the normal range, by the Metropolitan Index of Air Quality (IMECA). In order to evaluate psychological factors, individual interviews were carried out. The psychologist found that the cases tended to have one or both parents absent from home due to divorce or death, and their family have been damaged by eco-nomic problems. In addition, psychological testing showed that these cases had higher anxiety levels than controls. Discussion According to our findings, this outbreak appears as a Epidemic Conversion Disorder. First, no biologic cause was found for the cases. In addition, there was not any evidence to implicate food poisoning, no source of toxic gas could be identified at the school, and the levels of air pollution were not above normal levels. The clinical presentation was not different from the fainting and paresthesia reported in others studies, nor was sex distribution. One possible explanation for the initial case was the time of sun exposure in the schoolyard. Subsequent spread of the outbreak was due to psychological and extra-medical factors, including publicity by the mass media. Interestingly the spread was stopped immediately after closure of the school for one day. All the findings of the psychological reports, applied by another researcher group add further weight to this conclusion. In support to our results, many studies has been reported in which the clinical manifestations are the same that we found. In these reports, the outbreak occurred frequently among women, teenagers, students of elementary and secondary schools and chorus, in whom no organic etiology or precipitant causes can be identified. Some authors have reported that the phenomena is more evident in groups with hormonal changes, rigid discipline used in music bands, and during periods of exams or situations under stress. Such circumstances are more related to the outbreak. Some studies have demonstrated that dysfunctional families, divorced or dead parents, play a mayor role in comparison with other factors such as socioeconomic level, religion or ethnicity. The mechanisms of these events have not been clearly identified. The typical course of a psychogenic epidemic at a workplace progresses from sudden onset, often with dramatic symptoms, to a rapidly attained peak that draws much publicity and is followed by quick disappearance of the symptoms. Over 90% of the affected people are women, and the signs range from dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and fainting to epileptic type seizures, and hyperventilation. Predisposing factors include boredom, physical stressors, poor labor-management relations, impaired interpersonal communications and lack of social support. The rapid spread in the conversion disorder, is by visual contact; the treatment should be directed towards the underlying stressors but the out-break may be prolonged. In Epidemic Conversion Disorder the abnormality is confined to group interactions. This outbreak shows the importance of psychological support in populations with risk factors of presenting the illness. The social problems among large populations produce an unforgettable painful experience, mainly among teenagers who dealt with the psychological damage with-out any support.