Lack of specificity of the traditional criteria for conversion disorders.

Psychological and physical signs traditionally considered as indicators of conversion disorder had never been confirmed through empirical data. Nineteen of these signs were sought in 40 patients with proved neurological disorder and in 15 patients with conversion disorder. All neurological patients but one showed at least one of these signs and most presented several signs.

[Calcium channel blockers and dysthymic disorders. Recent data].

The authors review the use of the calcium antagonists in the treatment of dysthymic disorders. Verapamil is mainly studied, but present researches focus on drugs with specific action on the CNS, particularly nimodipine. Their most constant therapeutic efficiency concerns hypomanic states; but their effect when prescribed alone remains inconstant on the manic states of bipolar disorders; in a preventive purpose, alone, or associated with lithium, their efficiency is real but inconstant.