title: A case of bilateral ptosis with unsteady gait: suggestibility and culture in conversion disorder.
abstract: We report a case of a 14-year-old girl who presented, following a sudden onset, with bilateral ptosis, gait disturbance, difficulty swallowing and loss of appetite, right hypochondriacal pain, and frontal headache. Protracted neurological and medical examinations were unremarkable; neither was precipitating psychological stresses evident. The condition, which manifest as typical conversion disorder, lasted for one year. "Treatment" involving electrical stimulation of both eyes muscles and legs with positive reassurance resolved the symptom. This case supports the view that conversion disorder, not only involves a strong element of suggestion, but also incorporates socio-cultural sanctioned prescription.
authors.affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Sharbati
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Viernes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hussaini
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zaidan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D013404:Suggestion