Mirror reading, writing and backward speech in a woman with a head injury:a case of conversion disorder

This paper presents a case of a 46-year-old, right-handed female, L.R., adm itted to a behavioural neurology unit after sustaining a mild head injury. The patient presented as a very complex case with difficulties in neuropsyc hological, emotional and medical domains. The unusual features of her backw ard speech, and mirror reading and writing, evident upon admission, are des cribed here. Results of assessment are considered in relation to conversion disorder and existing theories on mirror phenomena.