Cognitive-behavioral therapy of conversion aphonia

Abstract

Although a common disease, conversion disorder still calls attention in the clinical practice. A case of conversion disorder, diagnosed as a psychogenic aphonia that persisted for a week, was reported in this paper. A 21-year-old woman developed symptoms after breaking off a long-lasting relationship with her boy-friend. History revealed that she was introvert with high neuroticism and communication problems. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was used. After the positive reinforcement in the therapy of her aphonia, assertion training for the development of communication skills was performed. In the end, cognitive restructuring was used to prevent relapse in regard to her actual life situation of being a refugee preparing for immigration to Australia.Konverzivni poremecaj i dalje privlaci paznju u klinickoj praksi. Prikazali smo slucaj dijagnostikovan kao psihogena afonija nakon nedelju dana trajanja simptoma. Dvadesetjednogodisnja devojka razvija afoniju nakon raskida emotivne veze sa dugogodisnjim momkom. Licna istorija ukazuje da se radi o introvertnoj osobi sa visokim neuroticizmom i problemima u komunikaciji. U terapiji je koriscen kognitivno-bihejvioralni pristup. Nakon resavanja afonije pozitivnim potkrepljenjima, pristupili smo asertivnom treningu radi usvajanja komunikacijskih tehnika. S obzirom na aktuelnu zivotnu situaciju, status izbeglice u pripremi za imigraciju u Australiju, koristili smo i kognitivno restrukturisanje radi prevencije eventualnog relapsa.