PSYCHOGENIC DISTURBANCES OF VISION IN PED IATRIC-PATIENTS - DIAGNOSISAND MANAGEMENT

Ten cases of psychogenic loss of vision in children or adolescents are reported. Follow-up was six years after symptom onset. In nine patien ts the visual disturbance was initially ascribed to organic disease. A ll ten patients were hospitalized to rule out organic disease and to d emonstrate that the symptoms were psychogenic. A number of tests, whic h are described, rapidly proved the absence of organic disease. Given the young age of the patients, psychiatrists did not recommend psychia tric treatment. Placebo therapy was consistently effective in allowing the patients to disengage themselves from the make-believe situation they had created. No relapses were recorded.