Systematic review of misdiagnosis of conversion symptoms and ‘hysteria’
27 studies, 1,466 patients, median follow-up five years; misdiagnosis 29 per cent (1950s), 17 per cent (1960s), 4 per cent (1970s, 1980s, 1990s); decline independent of age, sex and symptom duration and probably due to improved study quality rather than CT scanning. Slater's diagnoses made 1951 to 1955, 32 of 97 followed-up patients misdiagnosed.
27 studies, 1,466 patients, median follow-up five years; misdiagnosis 29 per cent (1950s), 17 per cent (1960s), 4 per cent (1970s, 1980s, 1990s); decline independent of age, sex and symptom duration and probably due to improved study quality rather than CT scanning. Slater's diagnoses made 1951 to 1955, 32 of 97 followed-up patients misdiagnosed.
Written from the abstract read 2026-10-13.
What our sources record
Reproduced as it was written when this source was checked, figures and all.
doi:10.1136/bmj.38628.466898.55. Abstract read, and the full text consulted for the table entry on Slater (1965): 27 studies, 1,466 patients, median follow-up five years; misdiagnosis 29 per cent (1950s), 17 per cent (1960s), 4 per cent (1970s, 1980s, 1990s); decline independent of age, sex and symptom duration and probably due to improved study quality rather than CT scanning. Slater's diagnoses made 1951 to 1955, 32 of 97 followed-up patients misdiagnosed.