Conversion Disorder and Functional Weakness: Long-Term Outcomes

Patients with functional neurologic symptoms are a challenging and frequent presence in clinical practice. Investigators identified 107 patients with functional limb weakness who had been referred to a tertiary center specializing in this condition and tracked them for a mean follow-up of 14 years.

Among 89 with follow-up diagnostic information, 4 (4%) developed a diagnosable neurologic condition: multiple sclerosis, Huntington disease, Parkinson disease, or idiopathic cerebellar degeneration. In 65 patients with outcomes data, the functional weakness resolved in 20%, improved in 31%, and was the same or worse in 49%. Fair or poor general health was reported by 54%, and 41% were not employed for health-related reasons. Also, 51% agreed that …