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What is conversion disorder?
Is conversion disorder a functional neurological symptom disorder?
What are conversion disorder symptoms?
Who invented conversion disorder?
Jul 16, 2021 · Conversion disorder is a psychiatric condition in which a person develops physical symptoms that are not under voluntary control and are not explained by...
- SymptomsConversion disorder can have many different presentations and symptoms. Motor symptoms include weakness or paralysis, abnormal movements such as tr...
- How common is conversion disorder?Conversion disorder is extremely rare, but also somewhat difficult to track. Persistent conversion symptoms may affect 2 to 5 out of 100,000 people...
- What’s an example of conversion disorder?A case study of conversion disorder, according to one therapist, involved a young woman who was a Marine, following in the footsteps of her famil...
- What is the history of conversion disorder?Freud was strongly influenced by conversion disorder , believing that it represented an unconscious attempt to resolve psychological conflict....
- CausesThe onset of symptoms is usually sudden and can be associated with stress or a traumatic event. Stressful life events are often present in peop...
- What risk factors are associated with conversion disorder?Genetics and neurological disorders such as epilepsy are linked to conversion disorder. Life experiences including childhood abuse and neglect a...
- When does conversion disorder develop?Conversion disorder can emerge any time, although some symptoms may be more common at certain times, such as motor symptoms in the 30s and non-epil...
- Which mental disorders co-occur with conversion disorder?Conversion disorder often occurs alongside anxiety disorders, specifically panic disorder, and depression , according to the DSM-5. Personality...
- What challenges might patients face in the treatment process?Confronting and overcoming functional neurological disorders can be difficult for patients, because physicians may make dismissive, condescending...
- Overview
- Symptoms and Causes
- Diagnosis and Tests
- Management and Treatment
- Prevention
- Outlook / Prognosis
- Living With
Conversion disorder is a condition where a mental health issue disrupts how your brain works. This causes real, physical symptoms that a person can’t control. Symptoms can include seizures, weakness or paralysis, or reduced input from one or more senses (sight, sound, etc.). This condition is often treatable through various types of therapy.
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OverviewSymptoms and CausesDiagnosis and TestsManagement and TreatmentPreventionOutlook / PrognosisLiving With
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What are the symptoms of conversion disorder?
The symptoms of conversion disorder can vary widely depending on the part of the brain involved. Some of the most common symptoms include: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Seizures typically happen because of conditions or issues with your brain’s structure or how it’s working. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures happen because of mental health conditions (the word “psychogenic” means “of mental health origin”). Sense-related disruptions. Trouble with senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch are all possible with conversion disorder. Some examples include double or tunnel vision, hearing loss or numbness, and the inability to feel something touching your skin. Pain. People with conversion disorder often feel pain, sometimes with other symptoms and sometimes on its own. Unusual muscle tension, spasms, twitches and tremors. These all happen because of a disruption in how your brain controls your muscles. Muscle weakness or paralysis. Trouble swallowing (dysphagia). Dizziness. Fainting or passing out (syncope). Chronic fatigue or lack of energy. People with conversion disorder often seem like they’re not worried about their symptoms. This phenomenon, “la belle indifference” (which is French for “beautiful ignorance”), happens most commonly with conversion disorder. However, it isn’t necessarily a symptom, and it doesn’t happen with every case of conversion disorder.
What causes conversion disorder?
Experts don’t know exactly why conversion disorder happens. However, they do know that it’s more likely to happen along with certain circumstances and some medical conditions. Common circumstances seen in people with conversion disorder include: A history of childhood abuse. Having other mental health conditions, especially depression or anxiety. A recent stressful or traumatic event. A recent health condition or event acting as a trigger for conversion disorder.
Is it contagious?
Conversion disorder isn’t contagious, so you can’t get it from others or spread it to others.
How is conversion disorder diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider can diagnose conversion disorder using a combination of physical and neurological examinations, diagnostic tests, imaging scans and more. Diagnosing conversion disorder requires all four of the following: You have one or more symptoms related to your brain’s control over your movement or senses. Your symptoms aren’t consistent with recognized medical conditions. There’s no other explanation for your symptoms, such as another medical condition or mental health issue. The symptoms or issues disrupt your life, especially your ability to work, have relationships, etc.
What tests will be done to diagnose this condition?
The tests that your provider recommends depend strongly on the symptoms you have. In general, diagnostic imaging and neurological tests are most likely. These include: Blood tests (these can look for anything from immune system issues to toxins and poisons, especially certain metals like copper). Computerized tomography (CT) scan. Electroencephalogram (EEG). Electromyogram. Evoked potentials test. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How is conversion disorder treated, and is there a cure?
Conversion disorder is a mental health condition that causes physical symptoms. Because of that, treating the mental health component with some form of psychotherapy (mental health therapy) is usually the first approach. It’s also usually the most successful approach. The most common types of psychotherapy include: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is the most common type of therapy recommended. Experts also consider it the most likely to work. Hypnotherapy. This is usually a second option for types of therapy. It may be especially helpful when the symptoms of conversion disorder affect your ability to speak or any of your senses. Group or family therapy. Shared therapy experiences can help people with conversion disorder. Group therapy can help people with this condition connect with others who have similar struggles. Family therapy can help loved ones understand the condition and offer support. Other treatments that may help include: Physical therapy. The symptoms of conversion disorder may start with mental health, but the physical effects are still real. Physical therapy can help people with conversion disorder recover from or adapt to the physical symptoms. Medication. When conversion disorder happens alongside other conditions, such as depression or anxiety, medications for those conditions can help conversion disorder symptoms also. This is especially true when conversion disorder causes pain symptoms, as antidepressants can often positively affect pain levels. Biofeedback. Biofeedback is an alternative medicine approach that teaches people to change the way their bodies function. It’s a mind-body therapy that may improve your physical and mental health. During a biofeedback session, your provider uses monitoring equipment and instruments to measure your body’s functions. Based on feedback from the instruments, your provider suggests how you can create physiologic changes. With education and practice, you can learn to make those bodily changes without equipment.
How to take care of myself/manage symptoms?
Conversion disorder is difficult for even an experienced healthcare provider to diagnose. The symptoms that happen with conversion disorder are very difficult to tell apart from other conditions that affect your brain. Some of the symptoms look very much like those that happen with conditions like stroke, which is a life-threatening medical emergency. Because of that, you shouldn’t try to self-diagnose or self-treat this condition.
How soon after treatment will I feel better?
Because conversion disorder is a mental health condition, the time it takes to feel better and recover depends on many different factors. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you more about when you can expect to see changes in how you feel. Care at Cleveland Clinic Mental Health Care Make an Appointment
How can I reduce my risk of developing conversion disorder or prevent it?
Conversion disorder is a mental health condition that happens unpredictably. Because of that, there’s no way to prevent it or reduce your risk of developing it.
What can I expect if I have conversion disorder?
Conversion disorder is a condition that can have major effects on your life, depending on the symptoms you have. Many people who have it experience severe symptoms that keep them from working or doing activities they enjoy. Many people with conversion disorder also struggle with how they feel about their condition and how others treat them. It’s common for people with conversion disorder to feel as if nobody believes them or that people think they’re faking or lying. Often, feeling that nobody believes them or accusations of lying — especially when this involves healthcare providers — keep people from seeking care that could help them.
How do I take care of myself?
While it may feel difficult to understand how your mental health can cause physical symptoms, it’s important to remember that there are many other conditions where this happens. Stress, worry, anxiety and other negative emotions can worsen conditions like stomach ulcers, blood pressure and heart problems. If you have conversion disorder, the best thing you can do is work with your healthcare provider and follow their guidance on treatment. Many people struggle with accepting this diagnosis, so you’re not alone if you feel that way. If you struggle with accepting the diagnosis, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns. Building a strong relationship with your provider, where you can communicate openly and honestly, is one of the most important things you can do to help yourself. Other important things you can and should do include: Seeing your provider as recommended. Attending and participating in therapy sessions (including physical therapy, psychotherapy, etc.). Taking your medications, if any, as prescribed.
How can I help a loved one who has conversion disorder?
If you have a loved one who has conversion disorder, your support can make a major difference in their recovery and the outcome of their care. Here are some helpful “DOs” and “DON’Ts” to keep in mind: DO: DO validate them. Conversion disorder is a legitimate medical condition. People with it often feel like others don’t believe them, a belief that can make them resistant to seeking help. Knowing that someone believes them can be a major encouragement for them to seek care. DO ask how you can help. People with conversion disorder can feel very isolated and alone. Knowing that someone wants to help can make a big difference. You can also help by encouraging them to continue receiving care, especially if they’re struggling. DO be open to learning more about their condition and how to support them. Your loved one's provider may want to meet with you to talk about the condition. Your loved one or their provider might also ask if you’re willing to participate in a therapy session. Consider attending because what you learn could help you support your loved one better. DON’T: DON’T accuse them of faking. Accusing someone of faking the symptoms of conversion disorder — which is a true, recognized condition — can cause extreme pain and stress for your loved one. Only a trained healthcare provider who has considered all the evidence and investigated the symptoms thoroughly should ever make that statement (and healthcare providers should only say that if they have enough evidence to back it up). DON’T say it’s all in their head. The effects of your mental health don’t just stay in a person’s head. Researchers and experts have proven that mental health issues affect a person’s entire body and can easily cause physical symptoms, some of which are severe and frightening. DON’T forget to take care of yourself. Like many other conditions, conversion disorder can cause stress for the loved ones of people with the condition. Don’t forget to take care of your own health and well-being. You can’t support someone effectively if you’re struggling to stay afloat. A note from Cleveland Clinic Functional neurological symptom disorder, better known as “conversion disorder,” is a condition where a mental health issue causes physical symptoms. This condition is real, and the symptoms aren’t something a person can control. Unfortunately, many people with this condition feel as if others — especially medical professionals — don’t believe them. This can cause them to avoid medical care that could help them, which usually leads to worsening symptoms. If you have conversion disorder or your healthcare provider tells you they suspect it, it’s common to feel scared or worried about what that means. If you feel anxious about this or whether or not your provider believes you, it’s best to tell your provider about this concern. Your provider’s job isn't to judge you. Their job is to determine what’s happening to you, why it’s happening and then try to treat it. If your provider knows about your worries and fears, they can try to help set your mind at ease by listening to you and offering support, advice or solutions. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/18/2022. Learn more about our editorial process.
Jul 7, 2023 · Conversion disorder (also known as functional neurological symptom disorder) is a psychological condition that causes symptoms that appear to be neurological, such as paralysis, speech impairment, or tremors, but with no obvious or known organic causes.
Jan 2, 2024 · 7 min read. What Is Conversion Disorder? Conversion disorder is a condition in which you have physical symptoms but no injury or illness to explain them. For...
Feb 16, 2024 · Conversion disorder, also called functional neurological symptom disorder, is a psychiatric condition in which a person has neurological symptoms, like paralysis or blindness, with no physiological cause. People with conversion disorder are not faking their illness.
Conversion disorder (CD), or functional neurologic symptom disorder, is a diagnostic category used in some psychiatric classification systems. It is sometimes applied to patients who present with neurological symptoms, such as numbness , blindness , paralysis , or fits , which are not consistent with a well-established organic cause , which ...
May 8, 2023 · Conversion disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by signs and symptoms affecting sensory or motor function inconsistent with patterns of known neurologic diseases or other medical conditions and significantly impact the patient’s ability to function.
