[Unexplained somatic symptoms and underlying psychologic disorders in the neurology clinic]

The aim of our study was to determine pseudoneurological symptoms (PNS) and related mental disorders among patients referred to the neurology clinic. All cases of somatoform disorders (SD) as main discharge diagnosis, made on the basis of neuropsychiatric interview after exclusion of neurological disease, have been retrospectively reviewed. Among 623 patients, hospitallized to the Institute of Neurology between 2000-2001 years, SD prevalence was 3,69%, where conversion disorder accounted for 69,6% and somatization disorder - for 13%. Mean age was 27,8 (+/-10,1) and female/male ratio was 1,55. Results show that PNS appear to be a good marker of SD. We suggest that early detection of PNS would provide a correct management of patients.