Characteristics of a child inpatient population with hysteria in India.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the rate, correlates, and clinical outcome of childhood hysteria in a sample of inpatients in India. For comparison, the rate of this disorder among outpatients was computed.


METHODS
Data were derived from case records of inpatient (n = 143) and outpatient admissions (n = 640) during a 1-year interval at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, South India.


RESULTS
The diagnosis of hysteria was made in 30.8% (n = 44) of the inpatient and 14.8% (n = 95) of the outpatient samples. The inpatients with hysteria were mostly postpubertal, their gender distribution was approximately even, and pseudo-seizure was the most frequent presentation. These inpatients had a brief duration of illness at admission and short-term outcome was generally positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with hysterical symptoms form a notable proportion of cases in child guidance and psychiatry clinics in India. It could be that, in this culture, having a "medical" illness is one of the more acceptable means of seeking psychiatric help. The use of a structured and intensive inpatient treatment package appeared to bring about rapid symptom remission. Some of the present findings could be the basis to explore subtypes of childhood hysteria.
Srinath
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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services.
Bharat
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Girimaji
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S
Seshadri
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D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007046:Hysteria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies