What is conversion disorder? Conversion disorder (also known as functional neurological system disorder) is a condition in which a person experiences physical and sensory problems, such as paralysis, numbness, blindness, deafness or seizures, with no underlying neurologic pathology.
What are the symptoms of conversion disorder?
Symptoms
- Weakness or paralysis.
- Abnormal movement, such as tremors or difficulty walking.
- Loss of balance.
- Difficulty swallowing or feeling “a lump in the throat”
- Seizures or episodes of shaking and apparent loss of consciousness (nonepileptic seizures)
- Episodes of unresponsiveness.
What are the causes of conversion disorder in psychology?
Conversion disorder is normally caused by some sort of extreme stress, emotional trauma, or depression. It’s your body’s response to something you perceive as a threat. The physical symptoms may come about as a way to try and resolve or relieve whatever is causing the extreme mental stress.
What is the most common symptom of conversion disorder?
Patients with conversion disorder may present with blindness, deafness, pseudo seizures, dystonia, paralysis, syncope, or other neurological symptoms.
What is conversion disorder simple definition? – Related Questions
Who is most likely to develop conversion disorder?
[3] Physical injury or actual neurologic illness (such as a stroke or migraine) may “trigger” the symptoms of conversion disorder. Less educated people, those of lower socioeconomic status, and patients living in developing or rural areas are more likely to develop conversion disorder.
What is the best treatment for conversion disorder?
How is conversion disorder treated, and is there a cure?
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is the most common type of therapy recommended.
- Hypnotherapy. This is usually a second option for types of therapy.
- Group or family therapy. Shared therapy experiences can help people with conversion disorder.
What is common presentation of conversion disorder?
Patients with conversion disorder may present with neurological symptoms such as: hemiparesis, paraparesis, monoparesis, alteration of consciousness, visual loss, seizure like activity, pseudocoma, abnormal gait disturbance, aphonia or dysphonia, lack of coordination, or a bizarre movement disorder.
What is an example of a conversion disorder?
Common examples of conversion symptoms include blindness, diplopia, paralysis, dystonia, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), anesthesia, aphonia, amnesia, dementia, unresponsiveness, swallowing difficulties, motor tics, hallucinations, pseudocyesis and difficulty walking.
What age does conversion disorder appear?
During childhood, conversion disorder occurs most commonly in the 10–15 year age bracket and the condition is roughly twice as common in girls as it is in boys. In most cases symptoms date from a minor illness or injury.
What is another name for conversion disorder?
Conversion disorder (CD), or functional neurologic symptom disorder, is a diagnostic category used in some psychiatric classification systems.
What are the three categories of conversion disorder?
Four types of conversion disorder are specified: those with motor symptoms or deficits, those with sensory symptoms or deficits, those with pseudo-seizures and a mixed presentation.
Is there medication for conversion disorder?
Medications that have been tried with success include tricyclic antidepressants, haloperidol, and also treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Treatment of coexisting psychological or psychiatric disease is warranted.
Can a person recover from conversion disorder?
The symptoms of conversion disorder usually resolve with treatment and time. Delaying diagnosis and treatment could lead to more persistent symptoms and further complications. With treatment, it is possible to reduce and manage the symptoms of conversion disorder.
How does one develop a conversion disorder?
Conversion Disorder Causes
It’s almost always triggered by upsetting situations and other mental disorders. Women are more likely to have it than men. It also happens more often to people who have a history of emotional stress or who have a hard time talking about their feelings.
Who can diagnose a conversion disorder?
Testing and diagnosis usually involves a neurologist but may include a psychiatrist or other mental health professional. Your health care provider may use any of these terms: functional neurologic disorder (FND), functional neurological symptom disorder or an older term called conversion disorder.
Is conversion disorder considered a disability?
Social Security Disability for Conversion Disorder
If the symptoms are severe enough, an individual’s ability to work on a full-time basis may be compromised. There are many factors that Social Security will look at when considering a claim involving conversion disorder.
Is conversion disorder the same as PTSD?
A growing body of research indicates conversion disorder may be strongly linked to childhood trauma. Indeed, it may be the case that many diagnosed cases of conversion disorder are really symptoms of underlying C-PTSD, which can manifest itself in a variety of ways.
Is conversion disorder a neurological disorder?
Functional neurologic disorder (FND), also called conversion disorder and functional neurologic symptom disorder, refers to a group of common neurological movement disorders caused by an abnormality in how the brain functions.
Does conversion disorder affect memory?
Conversion disorder is a neurological condition that stressful physical or emotional events can trigger. People with conversion disorder can experience various motor, sensory, and cognitive symptoms, including tremors, vision loss, and memory loss.
