Conversion disorder in women with the FMR1 premutation.
Women with fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene premutations (55-200 CGG repeats) were until recently believed to be unaffected. It is now known that up to 8% of older female FMR1 premutation carriers develop fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Female carriers may also develop primary ovarian insufficiency, thyroid disease, hypertension, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, and fibromyalgia. We present a 60-year-old woman with FMR1 premutation who had depression, anxiety, and conversion disorder with seizures. The FMR1 premutation with its associated mRNA toxicity is postulated as an underlying neurobiological mechanism of conversion symptoms, through functional and structural neural dysconnectivity.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA. andreea.seritan@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Andreea L
AL
Seritan
Andrea
A
Schneider
John M
JM
Olichney
Maureen A
MA
Leehey
R Scott
RS
Akins
Randi J
RJ
Hagerman
D000328:Adult; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*
D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1