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Psychogenic convergence spasm mimicking ocular myasthenia
1Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. cscoppetta@tin.it.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|March 25, 2017
Summary
A young girl
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Convergent strabismus, diplopia, and reading difficulty can mimic neurological disorders.
- Previous misdiagnosis of ocular myasthenia led to prolonged treatment.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old girl presented with a two-year history of fluctuating symptoms.
- She had been treated with anticholinesterase inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs.
Findings:
- A diagnosis of psychogenic convergence spasm was established after a comprehensive evaluation.
- Reassurance and psychotherapy led to immediate and sustained symptom resolution.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering psychogenic causes in functional neurological disorders.
- Emphasizes the effectiveness of psychotherapy in managing conversion disorders.
- Suggests a need for careful differential diagnosis to avoid unnecessary pharmacological treatments.
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