SOMATOFORM DISORDER: CONVERSION By Emily Person Period 2

DEFINITION  A mental disorder whose central feature is the appearance of symptoms affecting the patient's senses or voluntary movements that suggest a neurological or general medical disease or condition.  A psychoneurosis in which bodily symptoms (as paralysis of the limbs) appear without physical basis  Marked by persistent physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition, substance abuse, or other mental disorder, and seem to stem from psychological issues or conflicts.

SYMPTOMS Signs and symptoms that affect movement function may include: Weakness or paralysis Abnormal movement, such as tremors or difficulty walking Loss of balance Difficulty swallowing or "a lump in the throat" Seizures or convulsions Episode of unresponsiveness Signs and symptoms that affect the senses may include: Numbness or loss of the touch sensation Speech problems, such as inability to speak or slurred speech Vision problems, such as double vision or blindness Hearing problems or deafness

DSM-IV CRITERIA: CONVERSION DISORDER

CAUSES  Episodes of conversion disorder are nearly always triggered by:  A stressful event  An emotional conflict  Mental health disorder, such as depression.  The exact cause of conversion disorder is unknown, but the part of the brain that controls your muscles and senses may be involved.  It may be the brain's way of reacting immediately to something that seems like a threat.

TREATMENT  For many people, symptoms of conversion disorder get better without treatment, especially after reassurance from the doctor that their symptoms aren't caused by a serious underlying problem.  Treatment will depend on your particular signs and symptoms and may include:  Occupational Therapy  To help maintain autonomy in activities of daily living  Counseling (psychotherapy)  Physical therapy  Ex. regular movement of arms or legs may ward off muscle tightness and weakness if you have paralysis or loss of mobility.  Treating related stress and other conditions  A doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants or other drugs as part of the treatment plan, depending on the individual health profile.  Transcranial magnetic stimulation  Exciting brain activity by using weak electrical currents that are said to alter the brain's biochemistry.

ADDITIONAL VIDEOS   6 minutes

BIBLIOGRAPHY   disorder/basics/symptoms/CON disorder/basics/symptoms/CON   