Conversion disorder usually occurs after a traumatic experience or significant distress and persists as a form of disability without injury. Patients will display physical symptoms for which there is no known physical cause and which they can’t control.
Conversion disorder, also known as functional neurological symptom disorder or functional neurological disorder, is a mental condition in which a person has blindness, paralysis, or other neurological symptoms that can’t be explained by a neurological disease or medical assessment.
There are three types of conversion disorder: motor, sensory, and seizures.
Conversion disorder is diagnosed more often in women than men and usually starts in adolescence or young adulthood. It’s also more common in people who have a family member with the condition.
The patient’s symptoms will vary depending on the type of functional neurologic disorder and may encompass distinct patterns. Frequently conversion disorder will affect a person’s movement or senses, most often it’s the ability to see, hear, or walk. These symptoms often come on very abruptly and will appear as though they’re problems with your nervous system.
The exact cause of conversion disorder is not known, but there are a number of theories about what may contribute to its development. Some experts believe that it may be the result of unresolved psychological conflict or trauma. It has also been suggested that conversion disorder may be linked to a person’s cultural beliefs or upbringing.
Conversion disorder is more common in women than men, and it often occurs in young adults. There is also evidence to suggest that there may be a genetic component to the condition.
Conversion disorder can present itself in a variety of ways, depending on the individual. Some common functional neurological symptoms, or conversion symptoms, include:
While these are some of the more common symptoms of conversion disorder, conversion disorder can manifest in any number of ways. If you or someone you know is experiencing any type of neurological symptom that cannot be explained by medical conditions, it is important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional or doctor. A professional will use your symptoms to determine whether you have a condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Conversion disorder is different from somatic symptom disorder in a few key ways. First, conversion disorder always involves a neurological symptom, while somatic symptom disorder may or may not involve a neurological symptom. Second, conversion disorder is characterized by an inability to perform a motor or sensory function, while somatic symptom disorder is characterized by excessive and disproportionate worry about one’s bodily symptoms. Finally, conversion disorder always has a psychological trigger, while somatic symptom disorder may or may not have a psychological trigger.
Diagnosis of conversion disorder is not perfect, but your licensed healthcare professional or doctor will start by eliminating other possible physical, neurological, or mental causes for your symptoms. According to the APA (American Psychiatric Association) the following symptoms are standard in order to be diagnosed as having conversion disorder:
If you think you may be suffering from conversion disorder, it is important to seek professional help. We put together an online test that can help you to assess whether you may be experiencing symptoms of the condition. The test is not a replacement for a professional diagnosis, but it can give you a better idea of whether or not you should seek help from a mental health professional.
If you or someone you know is suffering from conversion disorder, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Conversion disorder can be a debilitating condition, and left untreated can lead to even more serious problems. If the disorder is caused by a chronic disorder, like depression, then the depression must be treated in order to stop the conversion disorder episodes from recurring.
There are a number of effective treatment methods for conversion disorder. The most important thing is to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Here are some of the most common treatment methods:
Crownview Telehealth specializes in treating many mental disorders and psychiatric disorders, and provides an extremely thorough diagnostic and treatment process, to ensure that patients are actually treated for the psychological struggles that are creating symptoms.
