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Clinical impact and misdiagnosis of functional ophthalmological symptoms: a case report.
- Source :
-
Journal of medical case reports [J Med Case Rep] 2023 Aug 11; Vol. 17 (1), pp. 340. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 11. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: There is a high prevalence of somatoform disorders and medically unexplained symptoms. When it comes to deciding whether a patient is able to work, it is essential to differentiate a somatoform disorder from a factitious disorder. The case presented demonstrates the impact on disability benefits and the subsequent psychosocial repercussions of misdiagnosing between a factitious disorder and a somatoform disorder.<br />Case Presentation: A 42-year-old Caucasian woman worked as a 100% fiduciary accountant until the age of 32 when she was placed on medical leave due to persistent trigeminal neuralgia. Afterward, she developed total blindness, not explained by a physiological process, accompanied by distress in a crucial emotional context. We evaluated the patient for a revision of a disability income after a diagnosis of factitious disorder with severe consequences such as disability income suspension and family conflict. Our psychiatric examination concluded the diagnoses of pain disorders related to psychological factors and a dissociative neurological symptom disorder with visual disturbance.<br />Conclusions: Blindness not explained by a physiological process may accompany trauma and psychological distress. Differentiating this pathology from factitious disorder or simulation is essential from an insurance medicine point of view, but also for its treatment.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1752-1947
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of medical case reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37563729
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-023-04063-0