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Attitudes of Neuroscience Nurses Toward Patients With Conversion Symptoms

Received January 1, 2007; revised August 29, 2007; accepted September 6, 2007. From the Dept. of Psychology, Univ. of Stirling, Scotland, U.K.; and the Div. of Clinical Neurosciences, Dept. of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Univ. of Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jon Stone, Dept. of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU UK. e-mail: Jon.Stone{at}ed.ac.uk
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Patients with conversion symptoms on neurology wards often report negative interactions with nursing staff. Objective/METHOD: The authors therefore systematically studied, by means of an anonymous questionnaire, the attitudes of neuroscience nurses (N=68) toward these patients. RESULTS: Negative attitudes were common: 16% disagreed that conversion symptoms were "real;" 46% thought the patients were "manipulative;" and 34% disagreed that neurology was "an appropriate place" for these patients. Levels of self-perceived knowledge were low. CONCLUSION: These negative attitudes toward patients are likely to impair effective management. Illness beliefs of patients with conversion symptoms need to be understood in the context of the beliefs of the health professionals looking after them.

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