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The question of symptom lateralization in conversion disorder
K Roelofs1, G W Näring, F C Moene
1Department of Clinical Psychology and Personality, University of Nijmegen, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. roelofs@psych.kun.nl
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not conversion symptoms are lateralized. Studies have shown a predominant left-oriented manifestation of symptoms for most somatoform disorders. The reports in the literature on the lateralization of conversion symptoms, however, are rather conflicting. They show left-sided, right-sided, or no symptom lateralization in conversion disorders.
Methods:
One hundred fourteen patients with conversion disorder were screened for symptom lateralization.
Results:
Those patients with unilateral symptoms (32.5%) showed no significant bias toward left or right symptom presentation.
Conclusion:
Based on these results, and the conflicting findings from previous studies, we conclude that there is insufficient support for lateralization theories in conversion disorder.