SUCCESSFUL SUICIDE IN A PATIENT WITH CONVERSION REACTION
JAMES H. SATTERFIELD M.D.1
1 Dept. of Psychiatry and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
A patient with conversion reaction who demonstrated typical symptoms for this illness (la belle indifference, spells of aphonia, paralysis, anesthesia and many other unexplained symptoms) is presented. This case illustrates that successful suicide in a patient with conversion reaction, although rare, does occur. This case also suggests two dangers in the management of conversion reaction patients. The first danger is that the physician may be so impressed with the multiple hysterical symptoms that he may not pay enough attention to depressive symptoms and underlying depression. The second danger is that these patients may intend to make only a suicide gesture and in so doing commit unintentional but successful suicide as may have occurred in the above case.
