Conversion Disorder Conversion Disorder (Somatoform Disorder) Kervin Delvalle Period 3 Psychology

What is Conversion disorder?  anxiety converted into a physical symptom

Associated Features  Psychological conflicts  An emotional event, scary or stressful incident may trigger physical symptoms  Feel seriously distress  Impaired in social, occupational, or  Important areas of life  Stressful experiences

Associated features p.2  Most people who suffer from this disorder may have another psychiatric problem:  generalized anxiety  some form of depression  obsessive compulsive disorder  report higher than average frequency of emotion  physical abuse during childhood

DSM-IV-TR  Motor symptoms or deficits:  This subtype includes such symptoms as coordination or balance, paralysis or localized weakness, difficulty swallowing or “lump in throat,” aphonia, and urinary retention.  Sensory symptom or deficit:  This subtype includes such symptoms as loss of touch or pain sensation, double vision,blindness, deafness, and hallucinations.  Seizures or convulsions:  This subtype includes seizures or convulsion with voluntary or sensory components.  Mixed presentations:  This subtype is used if symptoms

Etiology  Theory 1. Fried’s calls conversion disorder hysterical neurosis  which means a physical reaction to anxiety from "MIND" to "BODY"  Genetic  Runs in the family

Prevalence  Affects 1- 3%  2 to 5 times more common in women ( About 3%)  Ages between years old

Prognosis  Some Symptoms usually last about 2 weeks and may suddenly go away

Treatment  Treatment is focused on managing symptoms, improving quality of life, and improving coping skills  Antidepressants are sometimes used for accompanying depression  Referral to a pain clinic is helpful in pain disorder  Involvement in therapy groups to improve coping and express emotions verbally has shown some benefit

Reference  "Pinoy Nurses Galore." Somatoform Disorders ~. Web. 26 Apr  American psychiatric association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fourth edition test revision.Washington, DC: American psychiatric association.  Halgin, R.P. and whit bourne, S.K. (2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.  Intelihealth:the trusted resource. Retrieved from  M. D.G. (2011). Myers' psychology fpr ap. New York, NY: Worth publishers. yers

Lastly.. Discussion Question  Would therapy really be a help?

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