A case of conversion disorder presenting as a severe acute stroke

Conversion disorders often present with dramatic physical presentations suggestive of severe organic disease. We present the case of a young woman who presented to the Emergency Department with a dense left hemiparesis suggestive of a severe acute stroke. Emergent referral to a regional stroke center facilitated rapid medical evaluation, exclusion of organic disease, and confirmation of conversion disorder as the etiology for the symptoms. This report highlights the dramatic clinical presentations that may result from conversion disorders as well as the benefits of rapid medical evaluation by specialty stroke centers. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc.