Conversion disorder is classified as one of the somatoform disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR).[1] Although defined as a condition that presents as an alteration or loss of a physical function suggestive of a physical disorder, conversion disorder is presumed to be the expression of an underlying psychological conflict or need.
The critical psychological conflict or stress may not be apparent initially, but it becomes evident in the course of obtaining a patient’s history: ideally, it is a psychological factor related symbolically and temporally to symptom onset. Conversion symptoms are presumed to result from an unconscious process. (Conscious/intentional production of physical symptoms is classified as factitious disorder or malingering.) Conversion symptoms are not considered to be under voluntary control, and, should not be explained by any physical disorder or known pathological mechanism (after appropriate medical evaluation).
Though classified with somatoform disorders including hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder in DSM-III and DSM-IV, conversion disorder is classified as a dissociative disorder in ICD-10, keeping its long association with hysteria (Dissociative Disorders in DSM-IV).[2, 3] Clinical descriptions of conversion disorder date to almost 4000 years ago; the Egyptians attributed symptoms to a "wandering uterus." In the 19th century, Paul Briquet described the disorder as a dysfunction of the CNS.[4, 5] Freud first used the term conversion to refer to the development of a somatic symptom to help bind anxiety around a repressed conflict.[6]
POSTED BY: Lawyer Rene Garcia
- Conversion Disorder is a very serious Psychiatric sickness that can be experienced after a serious trauma. The Garcia Law Firm, P.C. has successfully handled these types of cases. Please call us at 212-725-1313 for a free consultation.
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