Prevalence of pseudoneurologic conversion disorder in an urban community in Manisa, Turkey

Abstract

Background: There is not a wide agreement upon rate of conversion disorder within Turkish population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits and related risk factors in a city.

Method: In total, 1,086 people, aged 15-65 years old, were selected from the city of Manisa, Turkey to take part in the study. We applied sociodemographic and health information questionnaires and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Somatization Subscales to the samples.

Results: The likelihood that an individual might have conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits was found to be 5.6% (n = 61). The prevalence of conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits was significantly higher among women (p < 0.0001), 15-24 year old women (p = 0.011) and 25-34 year old women (p = 0.003), people who live as squatters (p = 0.03), those with a history of psychiatric disorder (p < 0.0001) and those having a mother with a psychiatric disorder (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: This study has shown the conversion disorder with pseudoneurological symptoms or deficits is inadequately frequent in the population.