Conversion Aphonia in a Young Male: A Case Report

Authors

  • Teresa Sá Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto, Porto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8737-4325
  • Patrícia Magalhães Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto, Porto
  • Emanuel Santos Hospital de Magalhães Lemos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25752/psi.18499

Keywords:

Conversion disorder; Functional aphonia; Male

Abstract

Background: Conversion aphonia is a rare and controversial diagnosis characterized by abrupt voice loss, which is not explained by organic/neurological disease. Although the etiology remains unknown, it is historically dominated by Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which assumes the manifestation of symbolic physical symptoms as a reflection of unconscious conflicts. The prevalence is higher in females, at a ratio of 8:1, and there is no scientific evidence to define a specific treatment.

Aims: To present a clinical case of a more atypical conversion aphonia, in a young male, its possible etiological mechanisms and the complexity of diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: We report a clinical case and we carried out a brief literature review on the topic.

Results and Conclusions: The suspicion that the conversion symptomatology is fictitious and unreal remains a diagnostic obstacle, since it is impossible to determine the complete absence of simulation. Recent neuroimaging studies may provide further explanations about the disorder.

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Published

2022-09-07

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1&2 (2019)

Section

Case Reports

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