P01-251 - Conversion Disorder in Pre-school Children: a Case-report of Conversion Blindness

Abstract

Objectives

To describe a case of conversion disorder in a pre-school girl, affecting the sensory functions.

Materials and methods

The authors revise the specific characteristics of this disorder in pre-school children and highlight its differences from adult's common pictures. With that purpose they describe a case of a 5 year's old girl who attended the ER with sudden blindness complaints. She was admitted for observation and investigation. All possible organic causes where excluded. She was then referred to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry emergency consultation. She was diagnosed with Conversion Disorder triggered by a familiar stressful situation and was medicated with diazepam. Her vision recovered suddenly within a few hours.

Results and conclusions

Although common among adolescents and older children, conversion disorder is a rare entity among pre-school children. The affected function in this age group is usually the motor function, but in rare cases it can affect the sensory functions causing deafness or blindness. This seems to be associated with stressful events but also has a strong familiar component, where imitation of adult's behaviors and familiar gains take major roles.