Abstract :
A 28 year old unmarried male of 8
grade education with a 4 year old history
of fluctuating course of symptoms of
apparently unprovoked, repeated and
abrupt weeping spells and trembling of right
arm and leg, absent mindedness, impaired
consciousness and disturbed sleep was
admitted to psychiatric inpatient care. Along
with relevant pharmacotherapeutic agents,
he was subjected to a session of abreaction
therapy, wherein he was made to engage
in a free association of painful and
disturbing personal details of his past
romantic affairs, about which he was very
guarded when in conscious state during
previous therapy sessions. Suggestions
were made during abreaction, about how
he was gradually healing and becoming a
wholesome, healthy person again. Patient
responded favorably and his symptoms
alleviated drastically over the next 2-3
days, which continued to reduce gradually.
Keyword :
Dissociative disorder, abreaction, catharsis, conversion disorder.