15 yr old with sporadic EXTREME changes in mood and behavior; possible conversion disorder; doctors stumped/no help

[candy316]

For the past 2 years my family has been dealing with my 15 yr old sister's "episodes." She sees a therapist about once a month (they refuse to see her anymore often than that.) She is an A+ honors student, but she will go through these EXTREME episodic changes in mood and behavior where she becomes agitated very easily, is very mean in her demeanor and speech, and has loss of appetite. These episodes typically last about 6-8 days, during which she does not attend school. On some days during her episodes, her behavior is erratic: she will go days without sleeping, or she will walk around a room with her eyes clothes, or babble and ramble endlessly for hours about nothing (topics include the Bible, square roots, school, and other random things). Other things she does includes standing in one place and just blankly staring at the walls, waking up in the middle of the night and getting undressed and just sitting in the bathroom alone in the dark. All of this has been extremely stressful and heartbreaking for my parents to endure.  She is otherwise a completely normal child.  She can go months without having one of these "episodes" but when they occur, they happen abpruptly and seemingly out of nowhere.

She has seen multiple doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, neurologists...all cannot find anything physically wrong with her and they tell my parents there is nothing they can do and she will eventually just have to learn to deal with whatever is bothering her on her own. One psychiatrist suggested she had conversion disorder, but no one knows of anything traumatic that has ever happened to her. She is no taking Celexa (to calm her anxiety?).  All the Drs are saying they have never seen a case like this.  Can anyone recommend a specialist anywhere in the country that deals with abnormal child psychology/rare cases?? We are desperate! Please help.

[missy442]

This sounds like a classic case of bi-polar disorder. I have a neice with untreated bi- polar and this is the way she acts. Depakote is a great medication for the mood swings and behavior problems. I have tried to get my neice on it but she refuses to take it.  

[margypops]

Sounds like Depression or Bi polar to me, unhappy at home, whats your sister like away from home,she needs help,Has she someone to talk to have the many professional asked her whats up, How does she react to other people out side the home. By the way as an American/ Brit I think also Med care is great here if you can afford it, !

[SUGARPLUM344]

HAve you ruled out a hormonal problem?  Also - this may sound strange - but maybe a food allergy?  I know it sound simple - but I guess it couldn't hurt to look into?

[Sammie4258]

Your post is a bit shocking.  First of all it is heart breaking for your family.  Secondly, your family needs to shift focus. I have severe conversion disorder.  In fact, my report said that I tested positive 99.6% which is greater than anything ever studied in clinics.  
They symtoms you are describing does not fit conversion disorder.  It really fits Bipolar Disorder.  I am not surprized that her tests are coming out normal.  You really need to shift your focus on to Bipolar and get her on some meds.  I may be wrong but she has classic symptoms of Bipolar.  Please check this out.  Let us know how this goes.  

[candy316]

My family lives in Washington D.C. and they have excellent private health insurance coverage.  At this point my sister has seen about 5-6 different specialists and none of them can offer any real advice.  Clearly she is not getting any better, but they all say they cannot figure out what is wrong.  She has had blood tests, CAT scans, and an MRI...but still they can find nothing.  She sees a therapist once to twice a month, and he seems to think everything is fine as well.  Celexa has been the only therapy they have given her.  It seemed to have a calming effect, during the latest episode, in which she is going through right now.

If anyone else has been through something similar, and is in the U.S., please get back to me.

Thanks for your help everyone!

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Preach it my Canadian sister.  While I am often frustrated by our system I am also very proud that EVERY Canuck has equal access to healthcare.  I lived in the US for several years and was frustrated by co-pays, limits and watching the working poor do without any healthcare.

The US has a wonderful medical system, for those who can afford it.

Rock Rose, you are one of my favs, but you can't bash Canada!!  I chose my doctors, my specialists and have never had a long wait for any procedure.  There are programs for children who are having trouble, the difficulty is finding a social worker who can help you navigate them.

OP:  This girl sounds like she is seriously mentally ill.  She needs to be treated by experts who specialize in adolescent mental health.

[jdtm]

I do not know of what you are reading but that complaint probably is not Canadian.  We are very proud of our "universal" health care (which I admit costs a lot in taxes).  What it means is that every person in Canada is entitled to any and all health care until cured or dies.  There is no limit on the number of times you can access the system (and some people do abuse it).  Almost all aspects are free - evaluations, opinions, tests, physical, mental, surgery, recovery, hospitalization, some medications, at-home nursing care, etc.  Even some of our dental and eye care issues are free.  One example of having to pay for health care would be "bigger breasts" unless, of course, the woman was injured in an accident or suffered from cancer.

We choose our doctors and switch when we don't like them (as in any capitalist country).  We ask for second and third opinions if we feel we need them (and we can suggest from whom).  But because we are dealing with ALL the people (not just those who can pay), sometimes it appears there is a shortage of medical personnel.  We also have many preventative procedures for our people which puts stress on the system as mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI's, blood tests, bone density tests, colon examinations, pap smears, etc.  There is no preference given to the rich and/or famous - all are treated equally (unless, of course, an emergency - this includes one waiting in the emergency room or waiting for a heart transplant).  Sometimes those of us even use medical personnel in the U.S. if it is faster (of course our government always pays and we realize we are placed ahead of American citizens because of this - something which I do not like).  Unfortunately, money does talk.

By the way, according to the ranking of world countries, Norway ranks at the top  after taking into consideration of all categories as health, education, financial, treatment of women, length of life, etc.  Canada ranks 6, Japan ranks 7 and the U.S. ranks 8.

Hope this helps -

jdtm

[jdtm]

I am Canadian and feel the need to reply to your statement re socialized health care in Canada.  Health care in Canada is universal; not socialized.  I do admit there is need for improvement in our system; although it is still one of the best in the world - definitely the best in North America.

According to the World Health Organization, the 206 ranking of the 190 countries according to health care puts France at the top, followed by Italy.  Canada ranks   30 and the United States ranks 37.  It appears that the U.S. also is in need of improvement.  Frankly, I was surprised that the U.S. was rated so highly.

[RockRose]

jdtm - I admit I don't know much about the Canadian system,  just kind of what I've read on different boards,  and it appeared to me that you can't choose the route of your health care.  I keep reading frustrating stories on other boards about a doctor kind of refusing to investigate a legitimate complaint,  and that's it,  you're stuck.

In a case like this in Canada,  would a patient have the option to make another appointment,  and another,  at the facility of their choosing,  until they get the answers they want like you can in the US if you have insurance?

[RockRose]

Candy - are your parents actually paying these doctors - or are they in a situation where they have to accept socialized medicine,  or are they in a country with socialized medicine like Canada?

If your parents live in the US and they have regular insurance and are paying doctors,  I'm tempted to say this borders on unbelievable.  If they have to accept socialized medicine,  this is par for the course and this is what happens when doctors don't care one whit what happens to the patients,  and if they can't diagnose them in 15 minutes they're out of there with no help.

I have an extended family member - a nephew of my sister-in-law,  whose son had exactly these symptoms.  There was schizophrenia in his family,  but he never developed  into full-blown schizophrenia,  and he's 28 now so he's out of the age range for that.  He would have weeks here and there where he couldn't read,  he couldn't function,  he couldn't recognize family,  and then he'd go months fine.  

If your parents have money to go to different doctors, they need to do that.  To be told to live with this is assinine.


Best wishes in your quest for answers.