[Cognition, emotion, and behavior. Neuropsychosomatisms and non-neurological paroxysms]

We present neuropsychosomatic disorders diagnosed and treated during the period 1994-1997.

A total of 83 cases, 24 boys and 59 girls, were selected according to suspected diagnosis. Their ages were in relationship with the psychosomatic disorder. This 83 cases is 10% of neuropediatric assistance in the period. A protocol was designed for disclosing any organic pathology. The psychopedagogic method is based on the PASS theory of intelligence and emotion processing theory of masquerade behavior. The success was defined after a period of, at least, two years of follow-up.

Cephalalgia was the most frequent diagnosis. Language and learning difficulties, attention deficit disorder and pseudo-epilepsy were also frequent. Other diagnoses were: amblyopia, paralysis, pseudo-autism, tic, sphincter disorder, vertigo, mutism and sleep disorder.

Concerning differential diagnosis, it must be emphasized that complex partial epilepsy of frontal lobe can mimic psychosomatics disorder as short, less than one minute, automatism. Partial epilepsy of temporal lobe may also mimic psychosomatic disorder but epilepsy does not respond to psychopedagogic remediation. Tumor and migraine must be also disclosed in case of cephalalgia but they do not respond to psychopedagogic remediation. Neurological scientific bases of emotion processing theory are widely explained.

Cognition and emotion are functions of the central nervous system so they are competency of neuropediatrician. On the other hand, it is convenient for neuropediatrician to know about behavioral analysis in order to improve diagnosis and economical cost.