Anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with conversion disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To determine symptom pattern of conversion disorder and its association with co-existent anxiety and depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Services Hospital, Lahore from August 2003 to January 2004.


METHODS
One hundred patients, suffering from conversion disorder, diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, were assessed for severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms by using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). A semi-structured interview was used for demographic details.


RESULTS
Anxiety was seen to be present in 35% of cases, depression in 29% and 31% of the patients had both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Overall co-morbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in conversion disorder was high i.e. 95% and only 5% of the patients were without any co-morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. A significant association was found between depressive and sensory symptoms (p=<0.05) in patients with conversion disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients with a diagnosis of conversion disorder need to be managed for anxiety and depressive symptoms appropriately for better outcome.
Khan
Muhammad Nasar Sayeed
MN
Department of Psychiatry, Services Institute of Medical Science and Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. nasarsayeed@yahoo.com
Ahmad
Salman
S
Arshad
Nadia
N
Ullah
Naeem
N
Maqsood
Nabila
N
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies