Psychogenic disorders of vision in childhood ("visual conversion reactions"): perspectives from adolescence: a research note

Abstract

Fifteen adolescents who had exhibited psychogenic disorders of vision in childhood were compared with a control group of adolescents who had experienced childhood visual dysfunction of organic origin. The principal modes of assessment were clinical interviews, the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and self-report measures concerning specific personality traits. Adolescents who had previously presented with psychogenic disorder were more likely to (1) report having experienced school difficulties and the loss of a significant figure at the time of presentation, (2) rate their mothers as over-involved on the PBI and (3) report adjustment difficulties and obsessional personality traits in adolescence.