title: The utility of electromyographic biofeedback in the treatment of conversion paralysis.
abstract: Conversion paralysis has a poor prognosis when there is evidence of nonresponse to previous treatment, long duration, and secondary atrophy of the "paralyzed" muscles. The authors present four such cases in which conversion paralysis was treated successfully by means of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback. Each of the four patients also suffered from a chronic pain condition. Results from statistical analyses indicated that the four patients demonstrated significant improvement in the functional capacity of the "paralyzed" muscles as measured by isometric maximum voluntary contraction and EMG activity. The improvements occurred without explicit psychotherapy and suggest that behavioral modification techniques alone may be helpful in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fishbain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Asfour
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdel-Moty
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Meagher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rosomoff
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Rosomoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D059408:Pain Management; D010243:Paralysis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*