NJ doctor tests LeRoy students for PANS

LeROY, N.Y. (WIVB) - At least a dozen LeRoy High School students have been diagnosed with Conversion Disorder. But many families remain skeptical of the diagnosis.

Doctors at the Dent Neurological Institute are pointing to psychological factors in the girls and one boy that led to Conversion Disorder, which causes tics and spasms. But others say the cause of the  Tourette's-like symptoms may be environmental.

Late last year, the LeRoy School District hired a company to do tests of some paints, cleaning solutions and vapors . The company was looking to see if there were any problems inside the school. The study showed if there was high exposure, there could be long-term health effects from these sources that could result in neurological symptoms.

The school has hired William Albert, from the Harris Beach law firm, to speak on behalf of the school.

"We don't think the sampling methods were inaccurate, or that the sampling results were wrong," Albert said. "The original sampling was used to identify if there was an obvious indoor or air quality issue."

No problems were reported in the study, except for a natural gas odor.  The results of the study said that problem was easily fixable. Still, a third party will review the findings.

Days ago, famed environmental activist Erin Brockovich sent a team into LeRoy, testing water, in light of a train derailment and chemical spill from the 1970s.

The tics have many parents and community members concerned.

Jim Dupont, who speaks for the parents with affected teens, is not satisfied with answers he's getting.

"Even if it was Conversion Disorder, and that was the symptoms of it, we don't know what caused it," Dupont argued.

Dr. Jennifer McVige from the Dent Neurologic Institute appeared on 'CBS This Morning' and stands by her Conversion Disorder diagnosis. She insisted the symptoms these students are showing are stress-related.

"Somebody has either a lifetime of many stressors that build up, or one individual stressor and it kind of brings that out in a physical form," explained Dr. McVige.

She also believes it could be a case of mass hysteria.

Another doctor from New Jersey, Dr. Rosario Trifiletti , said he traveled to LeRoy on Sunday.  He met with nine students affected with the tics.

He said, "There are potential medical causes that have not yet been fully excluded, including PANS (Pediatric Acute Neuropsychiatric Syndrome; formerly called PANDAS) , which may be associated with a variety of infectious triggers."

Trifiletti also noted, "the "mass Conversion Disorder" diagnosis given by the Dent Institute is a diagnosis of exclusion, and as such, can never be ruled out."

Despite testing for PANS, Trifiletti said, "I think Dr. McVige and her colleagues at Dent have done an excellent job in attempting to evaluate these patients to the best of their abilities, and their conclusions are reasonable."

Trifiletti's tests will be returned within the next two weeks.  He did not test for "environmental neurotoxins."