Curing somatisation-induced paraplegia with experimental dice-based affective modulation.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• A 58-year-old man experienced a minor meniscal injury to his right knee.
• This injury triggered profound somatization, leading to a debilitating fear of movement.

Observation:

• The patient's mobility progressively declined over two years from active mountaineering to paraplegia.
• Extensive medical investigations ruled out organic causes for his condition.
• Conventional therapies and multiple medications, including SSRIs and antipsychotics, proved ineffective.

Findings:

• A combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), physiotherapy, and an innovative experimental therapy was employed.
• The experimental therapy involved the patient acting based on dice roll outcomes.
• This multimodal approach facilitated the patient's recovery, enabling him to regain mobility.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential of integrating psychological and novel therapeutic interventions for somatization disorders.
• It underscores the importance of addressing deep-seated beliefs that impede physical recovery.
• The findings suggest a new avenue for treating functional neurological disorders and somatization.