Dissociative disorders in the Sultanate of Oman

To study the clinical manifestations and psychosocial aspects of dissociative (conversion) disorders (DD) in the Sultanate of Oman.

A retrospective analysis was made of data derived from case records of patients admitted as in-patients to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, over a period of 8 years.

A higher prevalence of DD was noted in Oman compared to western countries. The female preponderance was less marked in Oman. The most common presentations were dissociative convulsions, dissociative motor and dissociative trance disorders. Interpersonal difficulties with family and academic problems were the important identified precipitants.

The study highlights the characteristic clinical and psychosocial features of the dissociative phenomena in Oman.