Anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with conversion disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine symptom pattern of conversion disorder and its association with co-existent anxiety and depressive symptoms. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Services Hospital, Lahore from August 2003 to January 2004. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients, suffering from conversion disorder, diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, were assessed for severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms by using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). A semi-structured interview was used for demographic details. RESULTS: Anxiety was seen to be present in 35% of cases, depression in 29% and 31% of the patients had both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Overall co-morbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in conversion disorder was high i.e. 95% and only 5% of the patients were without any co-morbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. A significant association was found between depressive and sensory symptoms (p=<0.05) in patients with conversion disorders. CONCLUSION: The patients with a diagnosis of conversion disorder need to be managed for anxiety and depressive symptoms appropriately for better outcome.