MOTOR CONVERSION DISORDER - A PROSPECTIVE 2-YEAR TO 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

In this prospective study, 30 patients with motor conversion disorder were assessed for key psychiatric and demographic variables. At reasse ssment 2 to 5 years later, 19 patients had completely recovered and 8 patients had improved, whereas only 3 were unchanged or worse. Contrar y to other follow-up studies, none of the patients received a rediagno sis of neurological disease. The presence of a personality disorder an d overall personality pathology, particularly within cluster C, the pr esence of a concomitant somatic disease, low DSM-IV Axis V score, and high score on the Becks Hopelessness Scale proved to be associated wit h poor outcome.