Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2015 Volume 143, Issue 7-8, Pages: 446-450
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1508446S
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Astasia-Abasia and Ganser syndrome in a preadolescent girl: A case report
Stanković Miodrag (Clinical Center, Clinic for Mental Health Protection, Niš + Faculty of Medicine, Niš)
Kostić Jelena (Clinical Center, Clinic for Mental Health Protection, Niš)
Grbeša Grozdanko (Clinical Center, Clinic for Mental Health Protection, Niš + Faculty of Medicine, Niš)
Tošić Tatjana (Clinical Center, Pediatric Internal Medicine Clinic, Niš)
Stanković Sandra (Clinical Center, Pediatric Internal Medicine Clinic, Niš)
Introduction. Astasia is the inability to maintain an upright body position
without assistance in the absence of motor weakness or sensory loss. Abasia
is described as the inability to walk or as uncoordinated walking, while
preserving mobility of the lower limbs. Ganser syndrome is described as a
dissociative disorder characterized by approximate answers, somatic
conversion symptoms, clouding of consciousness, as well as visual and
auditory pseudohallucinations. The aim of this study is to present a case
that seemed like a combination of neurological and internal disturbances, but
actually represented a psychogenic disorder. Case Outline. This paper
presents the case of a 13-year-old patient with the first manifestation of
the inability to walk and stand. Medical history, diagnostic instruments and
differential diagnostic methods have been presented in detail. The clinical
manifestation was initially interpreted as a neurological disorder. However,
after the application of diagnostic procedures and a change in family
circumstances, the patient was diagnosed with a psychogenic movement
disorder, astasia-abasia, with progressive clinical presentation that
included dissociative psychotic reactions (Ganser syndrome). Differential
diagnosis as well as the elements of the therapeutic approach have been
discussed. Conclusion. Presenting a case of psychogenic astasia-abasia in
children contributes to a better understanding and differentiating between
conditions with a clinical presentation of signs and symptoms dealt with by
other branches of medicine.
Keywords: astasia-abasia, Ganser syndrome, preadolescent