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To evaluate the efficacy of an early multidisciplinary (neurology and psychiatry) intervention for conversion disorder (CD).
Methods
Consecutive patients newly diagnosed with CD from 2005 to 2007 were compared to a control group of newly diagnosed CD patients receiving usual care. At 3 years, a questionnaire evaluated self‐rated subjective outcome, symptom severity, SF‐36 scores, employment status and medical care use.
Results
Data from 12 cases (mean age 25.5 ± 8.2; 9 females) and 11 controls (mean age 34.7 ± 13.5; 10 females) showed that 83% of cases had a good subjective outcome (symptom improved or cured) when only 36% of controls had a good outcome (p < 0.05). Cases significantly improved their SF‐36 scores on subscales involving physical complaints compared to controls. A minority (20%) of cases reduced or ceased professional activity when 70% of controls did (p < 0.001). Only 16% of cases sought further medical advice for the initial symptom when 73% of controls did. Both groups accepted psychiatric referrals (83% of cases and 73% of controls) and found it beneficial.
Conclusions
Early intervention involving both neurologists and psychiatrists is effective for CD in alleviating physical complaints, reducing sick leave and health care use.
The prevalence of poststroke dementia (PSD) varies largely according to the composition of cohorts, setting, and delay after stroke. The cognitive syndrome of vascular dementia (VaD) is characterized by: memory deficit, dysexecutive syndrome, slowed information processing, and mood and personality changes. Cortical VaD relates to large vessel disease, cardiac emboli, and hypoperfusion. It prominently shows cortical and corticosubcortical arterial territorial and distal field infarcts. The occurrence of dementia depends on two factors: the total volume of brain loss because of infarcts and hemorrhages, and the location of these lesions. Many instances of dementia occurring in stroke patients are probably the consequence of the cumulative effect of the cerebrovascular lesions, Alzheimer pathology, and white matter changes. Patients with dementia after stroke are significantly less often treated with aspirin or warfarin than nondemented patients. Trials of secondary prevention of stroke usually exclude patients with obvious dementia.
By
François Vingerhoets, Department of Neurology,University of Lausanne, Switzerland,
Julien Bogousslavsky, Department of Neurology,University of Lausanne, Switzerland