A Case Series from Rantauprapat, La Belle Indifference: A Coping Mechanism or Is There Something Organic Behind?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: La belle indifference, a term that is inexhaustible to discuss, albeit there is no single definition that best describes the condition. To date, la belle indifference has gotten no place in the DSM-5 criteria for being a distinct entity of mental health issue.

CASE REPORTS: We reported 3 cases with la belle indifference. These patients include a stroke patient with right-sided hemiparesis, a patient suffering from neuropathic pain because of diabetic neuropathy, and a patient with cardiac dyspnea due to chronic heart failure — these three cases presented with a similar clinical profile that is the trigger for developing la belle indifference.

CONCLUSIONS: La belle indifference has varying symptom spectrum, and there is always something called “trigger†to induce it.