Reply #5: An update to the earlier thread about her... [View All]

[SidDithers]

had information that experts thought her illness was psychogenic.

On the October 16, 2009, Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor", Dr. Leigh Vinocur from the University of Maryland Medical System offered an alternative cause to Ms. Jennings' syndrome. Dr. Vinocur stated that there have been no cases of dystonia associated with the flu vaccine and that neurology experts at the University of Maryland were using Ms. Jennings' case to teach neurology residents about psychogenic dystonia.

Dystonia is a neurological disorder where twitches and other repetitive, involuntary reactions occur. Normally, these repetitive actions do not let up. In the interview videos, Ms. Jennings' symptoms subside at times. According to Dr. Vinocur, neurologists saw the video and were convinced it was psychogenic.

Psychogenic disorders do not mean that a person is faking their symptoms. Rather, it means that the person truly believes that the symptoms are real. However, there is no physiological reason for the symptoms. It truly is all in their head. Examples include phantom limb syndrome, where a hand that has been amputated along with a limb is felt by the person as being clinched or still being there. Psychotherapy or some medications to treat the mental issues can help deal with psychogenic disorders.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=72660

Can a fake cure treat a psychogenic illness? :shrug:

Sid