The lateralization of atypical facial pain.
Various theories have been proposed to explain the reported predominance of left-sided symptoms in patients with conversion disorders, psychogenic symptoms, and chronic pain. In a population of 110 patients with atypical facial pain (AFP), there were no significant differences in the side of pain or lateralization of pain between psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients. A non-significant trend to left-sided pain in psychiatric patients was found if only those patients with lateralized pain were examined. The significance of these results to etiological theories of chronic pain lateralization is discussed.
Lam
R W
RW
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego.
Remick
R A
RA
D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000150:complications; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications