전환장애와 신체화장애의 임상적 비교 연구

A Comparative Study of Conversion Disorder and Somatization Disorder

In this study, the author investigated the various clinical characteristics of 40 female patients with conversion disorder and 28 female patients with somatization disorder, who visited the neuropsychiatric department of Korea University Guro Hospital during the period from September, 1983 to July, 1986. And additional attempt was made to compare the clinical characteristics between the two groups. The results are as follows. 1) The conversion disorder patients had significantly earlier onset than somatization disorder ones (P<0.05). 2) There were no significant differences in occupation, education, and religion between conversion disorder and somatization disorder. But the economic state of somatization patients was significantly higher than that of conversion disorder (P<0.05). 3) There was no significant difference in duration of hospitalization, but admission via OPD was more frequent in conversion disorder than in somatization disorder. 4) Of the symptoms of conversion disorder, muscle paralysis, muscle weakness, walking difficulty and loss of voice were more common. Of the symptoms of somatization disorder, sickly, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and psychosexual symptoms were more common. 5) The duration of symptoms in somatization disorder was longer than in conversion disorder (PC0.05). 6) Targets of secondary gain had no significant difference between the two disorders. 7) The clinical response* in conversion disorder was better than in somatization disorder, but the duration of OPD follow up after discharge was significantly shorter in conversion disorder than in somatization disorder (P<0.05). 8) Somatization disorder had more personality problems than conversion disorder. 9) The current physical disorder or condition in somatization disorder was more frequent than in conversion disorder but had no statistical significance. 10) There was no significant difference in severity of psychosocial stressor between these two disorders. 11) The highest level of adaptive functioning during the past year was lower in somatization disorder comparing to conversion disorder (P<0.05).