Polysymptomatic conversion disorder in childhood and adolescence in Japan - Early manifestation or incomplete form of somatization disorder?

Background: In conversion disorder in childhood and adolescence, polysympto matic (PS) presentations are reportedly commoner than monosymptomatic (MS) ones. Somatization disorder is also associated with pseudoneurological symp toms, but is extremely rare in childhood. This occurs despite the age of on set peaking in the teens among adult somatization disorder patients. Method : We reviewed the records of 44 children and adolescents with pseudoneurolo gical symptoms. They were categorized as MS cases (19) or PS cases (25), an d their psychological backgrounds and clinical courses were compared, Resul ts: PS patients had a poorer prognosis and more past psychiatric and family problems. While none met the DSM-IV criteria for somatization disorder, 2 PS patients met all but the sexual symptoms criteria. Conclusion: PS conver sion disorder in childhood and adolescence may constitute a different entit y from MS conversion disorder and may be an early manifestation or incomple te form of somatization disorder. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.