Health ministry of republic of moldova the university of medicine and pharmacy nicolae testemiţanu

Conversion Disorder 
Conversion disorder is a psychiatric condition in which emotional 
distress or unconscious conflict is expressed through physical symptoms. 

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Conversion disorder is a somatoform disorder that involves motor 
or sensory problems that would "suggest" a neurological condition. Psy-
chological factors, however, can be shown to be associated with the 
onset or worsening of symptoms. 
People with conversion disorder express emotional conflict or seve-
re anxiety due to stress through physical symptoms that affect voluntary 
or sensory function. These may include problems with walking or mo-
ving an arm, or even blindness. This disorder generally occurs in people 
whose usual coping methods are overwhelmed. 
According to psychodynamic theory, conversion symptoms seem to 
be maintained by operant conditioning. The person derives "primary 
gain" by keeping an internal conflict or need out of awareness. The 
symptom has a symbolic value that is a representation and partial solu-
tion of a deep-seated psychological conflict.
Conversion disorder is a usually mental illness condition where the 
person has physical symptoms and demonstrable structural or physiolo-
gical changes in which emotional factors are believed to play a major 
etiologic role. Blindness, inability to speak, numbness (lack of sensa-
tion), paralysis - there are some symptoms of conversion disorder.
There is no one exact cause of conversion disorder, although resear-
chers think the part of the brain that controls your muscles and senses 
may be involved.
For the treating conversion disorder patient take psychotherapy and 
stress management training may help reduce symptoms. 
Alternative treatment for the affected body part or physical function 
will require physical or occupational therapy until the symptoms disappear 
such as, paralyzed limbs must be exercised to prevent muscle wasting.
In case of conversion disorder people have some complication like 
person delay seeking treatment; their symptoms aren't clearly linked to 
stress and come on slowly, or don't improve quickly, more-serious psy-
chiatric conditions along with conversion disorder.
Diagnostic criteria for conversion
disorder as defined in the DSM-
IV are as follows: 
- One or more symptoms or deficits are present that affect voluntary 
motor or sensory function that suggest a neurologic or other general me-
dical condition.

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- Psychological factors are judged to be associated with the 
symptom or deficit because conflicts or other stressors precede the 
initiation or exacerbation of the symptom or deficit.
- The symptom or deficit causes clinically significant distress or 
impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functio-
ning or warrants (demands) medical evaluation.
The symptoms of conversion disorder involve the loss of one or 
more bodily functions. These may include blindness, paralysis or the 
inability to speak. The loss of physical function is involuntary and diag-
nostic testing does not show a physical cause for the dysfunction.
Generally, in the treatment of conversion disorder the psychiatric 
treatment is recommended to help the person understand the underlying 
psychological conflict. The integrity of the affected body part or func-
tion must be maintained until the conflict is resolved and the symptoms 
usually disappear.