Relationship between Coping styles and Conversion Disorder Phenomenology: A Study from Eastern India

Abstract

Background: Conversion disorder is a Functional Neurological Disorder under DSM-5 classification whicharises mainly due to psychological conflicts and without any underlying clinical findings and/or biochemicalabnormalities .Studies in the past have attributed faulty coping styles for genesis and maintenance ofconversion disorder.Here we attempted to identify any socio-demographic variable and coping style thatmay be associated with the patients of Conversion disorder.Aim:To study the socio-demographic variables ,clinical presentation ,coping styles adopted in patients ofConversion disorder.Methods: 51 patients of conversion disorder fulfilling the inclusion criteria of the study were evaluated forsocio-demographic variables, clinical features, coping styles using semi-structured pro forma.Conclusion : Our population consisted of young adults(mean-30 yrs),mostly females(82%).Most of ourpatients were married(69%), comprising of housewives or students.43 % of the population had a past historyof similar illness and a similar proportion had significant stressor provoking current episodes.Predominant symptoms were unresponsiveness(39%) followed by SOB/palpitation(25%).The most usedcoping strategy was religious coping(94%) followed by “venting of emotions”(75%).Education, andHinduism played minor protective roles while presence of stressor deployed both good and bad copingstrategies and thus identified as the most vulnerable group in need of treatment .