Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Conversion disorder, also called functional neurological symptom disorder, is a psychiatric condition in which a person has neurological symptoms, likeparalysisorblindness, with no physiological cause.
This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of conversion disorder.
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Conversion Disorder Symptoms
The word “conversion” in the term “conversion disorder” is used to explain the body’s converting psychological stress to physical symptoms in order to cope with the stress.
The nerves of a person with conversion disorder do not send and receive signals properly. It’s as though the brain and the body are miscommunicating with one another. For example, the brain sends a signal to move the arm, but this message is never received. This miscommunication explains the neurological symptoms central to conversion disorder.
Everyone with conversion disorder presents slightly differently, but common symptoms include:
These symptoms may be constantly present, or they may come and go.
Importantly, the symptoms cannot be created at will. The person is not faking their illness. Conversion disorder is a very real condition that can be extremely distressing to the person experiencing it.
Researchers do not yet know the exact cause for conversion disorder. It is likely that a range of factors come together to cause conversion disorder in certain predisposed people.
Psychoanalytic Theory of ConversionThere is no physiological cause, such as astroke, for the neurological symptoms of conversion disorder either. Instead, it is believed that symptoms are a result of “psychological and neurological conflict.“This is based on the psychoanalytic theory that the body converts emotional stress into physical symptoms.
Psychoanalytic Theory of Conversion
There is no physiological cause, such as astroke, for the neurological symptoms of conversion disorder either. Instead, it is believed that symptoms are a result of “psychological and neurological conflict.“This is based on the psychoanalytic theory that the body converts emotional stress into physical symptoms.
However, this theory has been criticized due to lack of supporting evidence and because patients do not agree with psychological explanations being given for severe physical symptoms.
Although no longer a requirement for diagnosis, it is common for an emotionally stressful event to precede the development of conversion disorder. In one study, 56% of participants with conversion disorder identified a “severe event” in the month before symptom onset.
Research in the neurological field is focusing on possible physical causes or contributors to conversion theory. Hypotheses include the interaction of trauma and sex hormones, or trauma and the biological stress response. However, more research is needed to make any conclusions.
Risk Factors for Conversion Disorder
Certain factors put a person at higher risk of developing conversion disorder. These include:
Diagnosing conversion disorder can be challenging, because symptoms are not due to an identifiable neurological cause or abnormalities in the brain. There is no one specific test that can identify conversion disorder, and it often involves ruling out other possible conditions, such as stroke or another neurological injury. As such, delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common.
The first step clinicians take to diagnose conversion disorder is to gather a detailed medical history and to review symptoms. They will look specifically for neurological symptoms, such as blindness or paralysis, that are inconsistent with the individual’s known diseases or medical conditions.
Medical tests may also be needed to identify or exclude medical conditions, such as brain tumors or stroke. These tests typically include:
The patient may then undergo various psychological assessments to identify any possible psychiatric conditions, such as mood or anxiety disorders, which often coincide with conversion disorder.
A healthcare provider will also gather information on recent or past life events, particularly trauma or stressors preceding the onset of symptoms.This is not required for a diagnosis of conversion disorder, but it is a common risk factor that may aid in diagnosis.
When Your Doctor Tells You It’s All in Your Head
How Is Conversion Disorder Classified?
The"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition”(DSM-5)is a handbook that provides diagnostic criteria for all mental health conditions. It helps guide mental health professionals in making accurate diagnoses.
In the DSM-5, functional neurological disorder (conversion disorder) is classified as one of thesomatic symptom and related disorders. This is a change from the DSM-IV, the previous edition of the handbook, which used the term “somatoform disorders.”
Between the DSM-IV and the DSM-5, criteria for conversion disorder changed to focus on symptoms that are present, rather than ruling out all other possible medical explanations. Another important change is that the requirement for a person to have a preceding stressor or to have experienced a traumatic event—although common in conversion disorder—has been removed.
Neurological Signs
In the early 2000s, prior to the DSM-5, diagnosis of conversion disorder focused on ruling out all other possible medical explanations for a person’s symptoms. While this is still an important part of the diagnostic process, recently it is not as heavily emphasized.
Recent research has identified some possible positive neurological signs for conversion disorder.These signs are found insomatic symptom and related disorders, and not in organic conditions. They include:
Cross-Disciplinary CareConversion disorder exists intersects the disciplines of psychiatry and neurology. As such, you may work with a psychiatrist, neurologist, or both clinicians collaborating with each other.
Cross-Disciplinary Care
Conversion disorder exists intersects the disciplines of psychiatry and neurology. As such, you may work with a psychiatrist, neurologist, or both clinicians collaborating with each other.
There is limited research on treatments specifically for conversion disorder. However, in clinical practice there are a variety of treatments that psychiatrists and neurologists recommend to reduce symptoms over time.
The provider should approach this discussion therapeutically, reassure the patient that their symptoms are very real and not made up, and explain the conflict between the mind and body. Establishing trust between the patient and provider is essential for treatment of conversion disorder.
Other forms of treatment include:
The prognosis for conversion disorder is better the earlier a person is diagnosed and treated. Unfortunately, though, it can take an average of seven years for someone to be properly diagnosed.
Longer symptom duration, delayed diagnosis, and effects from unnecessary medications due to misdiagnosis can all negatively impact prognosis. Healthcare provider and patient misunderstandings of the condition is also common and can negatively affect prognosis.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Being diagnosed with conversion disorder can be confusing. You may be experiencing very real—often very severe—physical symptoms, but medical tests don’t show any signs of neurological illness. Know that just because these tests are negative, your condition isn’t any less valid.
As you come to terms with your diagnosis, you may find it helpful to focus on the fact that conversion disorder is treatable, unlike many progressive neurological disorders. There is hope that one day your symptoms will be managed or completely resolved.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt is not known exactly how stress causes conversion disorder. But many clinicians believe that the body converts emotional stress into somatic (physical) symptoms as a way to cope with or avoid processing trauma.Some recent research has examined the physiological interaction of trauma, sex hormones (particularly estradiol and progesterone), and the body’s biological stress response in relation to conversion disorder.This is still preliminary research, so no conclusions can be drawn yet.The incidence rate for people with conversion disorder is estimated to be between two and five people for every 100,000 patients per year.Conversion disorder symptoms typically begin with maximum intensity. Everyone is different, but symptoms may last indefinitely without treatment. However, in some people, they may spontaneously resolve.Somatic symptom and related disorders are a class of mental health conditions in the DSM-5 that have physical symptoms that cause great distress and impact daily life functioning, often (but not always) in the absence of a specific medical cause.Children and adolescents can also have conversion disorder. Unfortunately, the condition is often misunderstood in kids and teens.As with any other age group with conversion disorder, children are not faking their symptoms and their experience should be validated.
It is not known exactly how stress causes conversion disorder. But many clinicians believe that the body converts emotional stress into somatic (physical) symptoms as a way to cope with or avoid processing trauma.Some recent research has examined the physiological interaction of trauma, sex hormones (particularly estradiol and progesterone), and the body’s biological stress response in relation to conversion disorder.This is still preliminary research, so no conclusions can be drawn yet.
The incidence rate for people with conversion disorder is estimated to be between two and five people for every 100,000 patients per year.
Conversion disorder symptoms typically begin with maximum intensity. Everyone is different, but symptoms may last indefinitely without treatment. However, in some people, they may spontaneously resolve.
Somatic symptom and related disorders are a class of mental health conditions in the DSM-5 that have physical symptoms that cause great distress and impact daily life functioning, often (but not always) in the absence of a specific medical cause.
Children and adolescents can also have conversion disorder. Unfortunately, the condition is often misunderstood in kids and teens.As with any other age group with conversion disorder, children are not faking their symptoms and their experience should be validated.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ali S, Jabeen S, Pate RJ, et al.Conversion disorder— mind versus body: a review.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015;12(5-6):27-33.MedlinePlus.Conversion disorder.Fobian AD, Elliott L.A review of functional neurological symptom disorder etiology and the integrated etiological summary model.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;44(1):8-18. doi:10.1503/jpn.170190Nicholson TR, Aybek S, Craig T, et al.Life events and escape in conversion disorder.Psychological Medicine. 2016;46(12):2617-2626. doi:10.1017/S0033291716000714Keynejad RC, Carson AJ, David AS, Nicholson TR.Functional neurological disorder: psychiatry’s blind spot.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(3):e2-e3. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30036-6Cleveland Clinic.Conversion disorder in adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596National Organization for Rare Disorders.Functional neurological disorder.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Conversion disorder.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ali S, Jabeen S, Pate RJ, et al.Conversion disorder— mind versus body: a review.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015;12(5-6):27-33.MedlinePlus.Conversion disorder.Fobian AD, Elliott L.A review of functional neurological symptom disorder etiology and the integrated etiological summary model.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;44(1):8-18. doi:10.1503/jpn.170190Nicholson TR, Aybek S, Craig T, et al.Life events and escape in conversion disorder.Psychological Medicine. 2016;46(12):2617-2626. doi:10.1017/S0033291716000714Keynejad RC, Carson AJ, David AS, Nicholson TR.Functional neurological disorder: psychiatry’s blind spot.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(3):e2-e3. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30036-6Cleveland Clinic.Conversion disorder in adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596National Organization for Rare Disorders.Functional neurological disorder.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Conversion disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ali S, Jabeen S, Pate RJ, et al.Conversion disorder— mind versus body: a review.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015;12(5-6):27-33.MedlinePlus.Conversion disorder.Fobian AD, Elliott L.A review of functional neurological symptom disorder etiology and the integrated etiological summary model.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;44(1):8-18. doi:10.1503/jpn.170190Nicholson TR, Aybek S, Craig T, et al.Life events and escape in conversion disorder.Psychological Medicine. 2016;46(12):2617-2626. doi:10.1017/S0033291716000714Keynejad RC, Carson AJ, David AS, Nicholson TR.Functional neurological disorder: psychiatry’s blind spot.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(3):e2-e3. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30036-6Cleveland Clinic.Conversion disorder in adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596National Organization for Rare Disorders.Functional neurological disorder.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Conversion disorder.
Ali S, Jabeen S, Pate RJ, et al.Conversion disorder— mind versus body: a review.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015;12(5-6):27-33.
MedlinePlus.Conversion disorder.
Fobian AD, Elliott L.A review of functional neurological symptom disorder etiology and the integrated etiological summary model.J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;44(1):8-18. doi:10.1503/jpn.170190
Nicholson TR, Aybek S, Craig T, et al.Life events and escape in conversion disorder.Psychological Medicine. 2016;46(12):2617-2626. doi:10.1017/S0033291716000714
Keynejad RC, Carson AJ, David AS, Nicholson TR.Functional neurological disorder: psychiatry’s blind spot.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(3):e2-e3. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30036-6
Cleveland Clinic.Conversion disorder in adults.
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Functional neurological disorder.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Conversion disorder.
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