Childhood Trauma, Dissociation, and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Patients With Conversion Disorder

38 consecutive Turkish patients previously diagnosed with conversion disorder were evaluated in 2 follow-up interviews. At least one psychiatric diagnosis was found in 89.5% of the patients during follow-up evaluation. 11 of the 18 patients in which a dissociative disorder was present reported having attempted suicide. 2 of the 20 patients in which a dissociative disorder was absent reported a suicide attempt. Comorbid dissociative disorder should alert clinicians for a more chronic & severe psychopathology among patients with conversion disorder. (40 refs)