Astasia-abasia is a conversion disorder where a person cannot walk or stand due to psychological factors. It can develop from injury, abuse, or phobias and is characterized by an uncoordinated gait. Treatment includes physical and psychotherapy.
Astasia-abasia is a disorder in which a person lacks the ability to walk or stand. Its meaning is immediately apparent when the word is split into two parts. The word astasia means the inability to stand normally, and abasia means the inability to walk with proper muscle coordination. Astasia-abasia is a conversion disorder, meaning it has no apparent physical or neurological cause. It is also known as Blocq’s disease, named after Paul Blocq, who was the first person to diagnose and describe the condition.
Disorders such as astasia-abasia are often thought to be the result of some form of severe stress and are psychological in nature. Also known as conversion ataxia, this disorder can develop from some form of injury, abuse, or other physical harm. This can lead to the development of phobias which can also cause the condition. Examples of related phobias include a fear of walking and standing called stasiphobia and basophobia or basiphobia, which is a phobia that occurs when a person is unable to stand for fear of walking and falling.
Those with astasia or abasia show certain characteristic mannerisms when trying to walk or stand. Torso sway and an off-balance appearance occur when trying to stand, while walking results in a staggering, stumbling, and uncoordinated gait. These types of gait symptoms are common to conversion disorders and are often seen as potential medical signs that help make the diagnosis. Despite this apparent difficulty with motor function and coordination, however, those with astasia-abasia have normal leg movement when sitting or lying down.
In many cases, people with this condition may feel like they are about to fall whether they are walking or standing. This rarely occurs as patients with astasia-abasia will, in most cases, prevent themselves from actually falling by snagging on nearby objects. If they start falling without a means to recover, it is often in the presence of others who can catch them and prevent injury. For this reason, injuries related to the condition are rare.
Although it doesn’t cause any physical harm, astasia-abasia can negatively impact the lives of people who suffer from it. If left untreated, it can have a negative effect on personal relationships and the patient’s ability to work. Treatment for this condition can include physical therapy, psychotherapy, and even hypnosis.
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