Hopelessness and locus of control in patients with motor conversion disorder

Thirty patients with motor conversion symptoms were assessed for affective symptoms by means of the Hamilton Rating Depression Scale (HRDS). The dimension of hopelessness was further investigated with Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The patients' locus of control (LOC) was measured with a Swedish version. Thirty further patients with similar motor symptoms due to neurologic disease acted as controls. Patients in the conversion group had higher scores on the HRDS and on the BHS, specially the Loss of Motivation subitem. They also had a more external orientation of LOC than the neurologic group, and external LOC is proposed to be a possible predisposing factor for the development of a conversion reaction.