conversion disorder

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conversion disorder

A patient with conversion disorder experiences sudden paralysis in their arm.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A mental disorder characterized by the conversion of mental conflict into somatic forms: This is a psychological condition where emotional distress or unconscious conflict is expressed through physical symptoms that have no identifiable medical cause. These symptoms often affect sensory or motor functions, such as paralysis, blindness, or seizures, but are not intentionally produced.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The patient was diagnosed with conversion disorder after extensive neurological tests found no physical explanation for her paralysis.
    • Symptoms of conversion disorder can include unexplained numbness, difficulty swallowing, or episodes that resemble seizures.
Advanced Usage
  • "To present with conversion disorder": To be examined and have one's symptoms identified as this condition.
    • Several soldiers returned from combat presenting with conversion disorder, experiencing psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
  • "A case of conversion disorder": An instance or occurrence of this condition.
    • The neurologist referred the patient to a psychiatrist, suspecting a classic case of conversion disorder.
Variants and Related Words
  • Conversion reaction (n): An older, synonymous term for conversion disorder.
    • The term "conversion reaction" is sometimes used interchangeably with conversion disorder.
  • Functional neurological symptom disorder (FND) (n): A broader, more contemporary diagnostic category that encompasses conversion disorder.
    • In modern diagnostic manuals, conversion disorder is classified under the umbrella of functional neurological symptom disorder.
Synonyms
  • Hysteria: An outdated and less specific historical term for conditions involving unexplained physical symptoms of psychological origin.
  • Psychogenic disorder: A general term for physical disorders caused by mental or emotional factors.
Related Phrases
  • "La belle indifférence": A French phrase sometimes, though not always, associated with conversion disorder, describing a patient's apparent lack of concern about their severe physical symptoms.
    • The presence of la belle indifférence is no longer considered a reliable diagnostic criterion for conversion disorder.
Notes on Meaning
  • The core concept involves the conversion of psychological stress into physical (somatic) symptoms. The symptoms are real and distressing to the patient; they are not faked or imagined.
  • This disorder highlights the powerful connection between the mind and the body. Diagnosis typically requires ruling out any underlying medical or neurological condition that could explain the symptoms.
conversion disorder

A patient with conversion disorder experiences sudden paralysis in their arm.

Noun
  1. a mental disorder characterized by the conversion of mental conflict into somatic forms (into paralysis or anesthesia having no apparent cause)

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