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[Psychogenic disorders: concepts, terminology and classification].
1Sección de Neurología, Hospital de Conxo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña. mariasg@meditex.es
Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain)
|July 27, 2004
Summary
Functional or psychogenic disorders, involving mental or physical symptoms without organic cause, are increasingly studied. Neuroimaging reveals unconscious inhibition plays a key role in these conditions, impacting volition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Context:
- Growing interest in functional or psychogenic disorders, defined as mental or physical disturbances lacking an organic basis, often triggered by stress.
- Historical and author-specific variations in the concepts, terminology, and classification of these disorders.
- Categorization of psychogenic disorders into dissociation and somatization disturbances (somatoform, factitious, malingering).
Purpose:
- To review the concepts, terms, and classifications of functional or psychogenic disorders.
- To analyze new findings in functional neuroimaging related to these disorders.
- To emphasize the neurologist's role in early diagnosis, particularly for conversion disorders.
Summary:
- Psychogenic disorders encompass dissociation (affecting memory, consciousness, self-identity) and somatization disturbances (somatoform, factitious, malingering).
- Conversion disorder (hysteria) is a key focus within somatoform disorders.
- Functional neuroimaging suggests unconscious, involuntary inhibition, distinct from malingering, underlies loss of volition, with emotional integration areas (anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal cortex) inhibiting motor/sensory cortex activity.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of early diagnosis by neurologists for psychogenic disturbances, especially conversion disorders.
- Suggests potential for reduced healthcare costs through timely diagnosis.
- Improves patient prognosis by enabling earlier intervention and management.