Motor Neuron Disease & Frontotemporal Dementia Presenting with a Conversion Disorder

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is typically characterized by progressive decline in executive function, behavior and language, but often presents with heterogeneous symptoms and co-exists with motor neuron disease (MND). One commonly overlooked symptom is somatic complaint, which can attract functional or psychiatric diagnosis. This case report illustrated a case of FTD and MND that was initially misdiagnosed as motor conversion disorder. Emerging studies in motor conversion disorders and FTD-MND suggest an overlap in the neurobiological underpinning. Extreme care is critical when excluding organic disorders in psychiatric presentation of atypical somatic symptoms.