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Primary progressive aphasia presenting as possible conversion disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Foluso Ademola ,
Jennifer Brophy ,
John Oguntade  and
Denis Murphy
Foluso Ademola
Affiliation:
Adelaide andMeath Hospital Incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
Jennifer Brophy
Affiliation:
HSE Dublin South West/AMNCH, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
John Oguntade
Affiliation:
Naas General Hospital, Naas, Co Kildare
Denis Murphy
Affiliation:
Adelaide andMeath Hospital Incorporatingthe National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
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Abstract

We describe a case of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) in a 62 year old right handed Irish woman who had progressive speech and language difficulty over a period of six years. She continued to work for a remarkable length of time and lived independently managing all her activities of daily living. The case posed a diagnostic challenge because initial presentation was suggestive of a conversion disorder. She also displayed signs and symptoms which overlapped with a fronto-temporal dementia and possibly early Alzheimer's disease. In our discussion, we explore the possible reasons for this overlap and the implication for psychiatrists. The need for adequate and sensitive investigations and a multi-disciplinary approach cannot be overemphasised as PPA cases are easily missed depending on the stage at which the patient presents.

Keywords

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA)Progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA)Conversion disorderDementia
Type
Case reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 145 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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