ASTASIA-ABASIA, PSYCHOGENIC OR ORGANIC? IT´S NOT EASY

Abstract

Astasia-abasia was described by Paul Blocq as a psychogenic condition; later, several brain injuries have been described for its explanation too.

We present a case of a 19-year-old woman who, after a hanging attempt, presents an astasia-abasia syndrome, initially labeled as functional, in the absence of other neurological clinic than the inability for walking and the absence of pathological findings in IMR and neurophysiological studies.

The reassessment and re-exploration of the patient questioned this diagnosis and after performing a PET scan, the presence of hypometabolism in left cerebral hemisphere, both striatum bodies, thalamus and cerebellum was discovered.

Differential diagnosis of astasia-abasia is discussed and data are provided for a reliable clinical diagnosis.