How to deal with my son's Conversion Disorder

[LindaWi]

My 12 year old son has been having all sorts of problems for the past 5 months.  After many medical tests (EEG, EKG, MRI, CT scan, etc.) I was told he has Conversion Disorder.  He has missed a lot of school, but I have learned to get him there, no matter what.  He experiences blindness, deafness, paralysis, sometimes he can't talk, and lately, he has seizures and short moments of amnesia.  Because he passes out frequently - and always near me - his doctor is scheduling a sleep study to rule out cataplasty.  He sees a counselor for about 45 minutes each 1-2 weeks, and sometimes sees a psychiatrist, mostly to control his meds.  He has tried Paxil and Effexor, and has now just started with Zoloft to see if that helps.  I feel so helpess, and wonder if more should be done.  Is counseling a couple times a month all that can be done?  I can't get him in at Children's Hospital because they just don't have time for new patients.  We tried a lock-in hospital, but after 2 days, I took him out because I felt that just wasn't the place for him.  He's highly suggestive, and I worried about him being with suicidal kids.  When he has any of the above mentioned problems, I try to walk away so he won't do it for the attention.  It's hard to be a patient mom, and I just want to be sure I'm doing everything possible for him.  I really do appreciate your thoughts on this.  Thank you!

[mitsukai]

A related discussion, Can you get over it yourself? was started.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

If the diagnosis of Coversion Disorder is accurate, don't expect quick resolution. Improvement comes in a slow but steady way: two steps forward, one step backward over a period of time. You may have noticed in the posting to which you responded that I recommended a period of intensive intervention. This can be done on an inpatient basis or on an outpatient basis through a day treatment or partial hospital program. Check with your insurance company about resouces they are prepared to authorize.

[Dianelar]

My daughter has developed conversion disorder also.  She has basicly gone blind. She went from a honor role student to D's and F's.  We had 3 major deaths in our family with in a short period of time and also my husband and I went thru a dramatic seperation.  She started school in the fall of 2002 doing great super grades and by the end of October 2002 she couldn't see.  She wears glasses but a very weak presciption. We took her to the eye doctor and he basicly told us she was faking her eye problems and that we should humor her and get her a new pair of glasses.  We we didnt buy this excuse and went to yet another more qualified eye dr.  He did every test possible and according to all tests she should be seeing 100%.  We then contacted our family dr and he of course immediately wondered had she been sexually abused.  Well after figuring that wasnt' the case, he sent her for a MRI.  The funny thing about this disorder is that she can see some things but not others. She can't read anything now, colors are non exsistant but yet she can see her kitten across the room. This was very frustrating to us.  The MRI came back perfectly normal. We then took her to a pediactric optomotrist who too could find nothing wrong.  We are now seeing a theripist for the last 4 months and some things have improved but nothing dramatic.  Our last hope was a neurologist.  He did tests I didn't know existed and nothing wrong.  She also can not focus when she looks at you. If anyone has any suggestions, or answers thank you. She is now going into 6th grade which is middle school and this is very frighting to me.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

That's OK - it was clear what you meant.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Many children do fine with twice-monthly therapy, but some conditions really require more intensive intervention. Your son's condition certainly qualifies as that type. By the way, you are correct in continuing to pursue medical intervention, because your son's presentation is unusual for a twelve-year-old and before a diagnosis of Conversion Disorder is determined with finality, all likely medical explanations should be ruled out. Now, relative to therapy or non-pharmacological treatment, a day treatment or so-called partial hospital program might be in order. This would involve your son participating during the day (he would sleep at home) in the program, over a period of two to three weeks or so. If this is not available, weekly therapy (even if the sessions are only thirty minutes in duration) would be appropriate. Also, ask his psychiatrist if he/she has contemplated a small dose of Seroquel or similar medication in addition to the current medications.

[LindaWi]

Oops...that's cataplexy, not cataplasty.