Denial of hemiplegia: an investigation into the theories of causation.

A comprehensive study of denial of hemiplegia, with tests chosen to cover the varied proposed hypotheses, was undertaken. Twenty patients with denial of hemiplegia following acute CVA were studied. Their results were compared with those from two patient 'control' groups. A neurological examination and neuropsychological assessment were carried out in all patients and CT brain scan performed in 21 CVA cases. The findings are discussed in relation to previously proposed theories of causation concerning denial of hemiplegia which include personality factors, cognitive ability and the presence/absence of neurological deficits. CT scan analyses showed that patients with denial of hemiplegia have significantly more white matter involvement, particularly the corona radiata, than those with neglect and there was also a trend that patients with denial are more likely to have lesions in the caudate.