Abstract

Background: Psychiatric comorbidity rate among the patients with conversion disorder was reported between 31-71%. The present study was planned to assess the overall psychiatric comorbidity, particularly bipolar disorder comorbidity in patients with conversion disorder.
Methods: A total of 100 consecutive patients admitted to the Psychiatric Emergency Unit of Sisli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey from April 2006 to November 2006 and diagnosed with conversion disorder were included in this study. SCID-I and sociodemographical form were administered to the patients.
Results: Bipolar disorder was found in 28% of the patients. The rate of dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), panic disorder, eating disorder comorbidity were higher in conversion disorder patients with bipolar disorder. In comparison with unipolar patients, bipolar patients had significantly lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores (p=0.03).
Conclusion: It is important to determine comorbidity and previous psychiatric history in patients with conversion disorder. If there is comorbid bipolar disorder, clinicians should consider mood stabilizing agents, and avoid antidepressants in the treatment of conversion disorder. Apart from other studies on conversion disorder, this study assessed comorbid bipolar disorder and other axis I diagnoses in patients with conversion disorder for the first time.

Key words: conversion disorder, bipolar disorder, comorbidity