Conversion Disorder Evelyn Perez Period 3 May 5, 2011

Definition -A physical reaction to anxiety -Mayo Clinic:condition in which a person shows psychological stress in physical ways.

Associated Features La Belle indifference or beautiful lack of concern: People who suffer from Conversion symptoms may dismiss them and pay little atteintion to them. It is most common to occur when a person is going through a psychosocial stress: Death of a love one or warfare

Associated Features DSM-IV-TR Criteria A. One or more symptoms or deficits affecting voluntary motor or sensory function that suggest a neurological or other general medical condition. symptoms B. Psychological factors are judged to be associated with the symptom or deficit because the initiation or exacerbation of the symptom or deficit is preceded by conflicts or other stressors. C. The symptom or deficit is not intentionally produced or feigned (as in Factitious Disorder or Malingering). Factitious DisorderMalingering

D. The symptom or deficit cannot, after appropriate investigation, be fully explained by a general medical condition, or by the direct effects of a substance, or as a culturally sanctioned behavior or experience. substance E. The symptom or deficit causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning or warrants medical evaluation. F. The symptom or deficit is not limited to pain or sexual dysfunction, does not occur exclusively during the course of Somatization Disorder, and is not better accounted for by another mental disorder. Somatization Disordermental disorder

Associated Features Specify type of symptom or deficit: 4 catergories -Motor symptom or deficits: a person may experience problems like impaired coordination, paralysis, swallowing and speaking difficulties and urinary retention. -sensory symptoms or deficits:individuals lose a sense of touch or ability to go through physical pain,double vision, blindness, or deafness -Seizures or convulsions -Mixed presentations-mix of all the aboves

Etiology Some potential causes: -Stress or emotional crisis - Depression -History of physical or sexual abuse primarily in childhood

Prevalence -Women are at high rate to suffering from convulsion disorder -Adolescence and early adulthood -Most common in countries in which medicine and psychology are less known -When it runs in family it usually appears at ages 10 and 35

Treatment Physical Therapy Using negative reinforcements are suggested as the basis for behavioral treatment in children Psychotherapy and stress management help reduce symptoms

Prognosis Gets better within a few weeks Not life threatening but complications can be debiliating People who suffer from conversion disorder may also suffer from Depression, Generalized Anxiety, Obsessive- Compulsive disorder.

References Conversion Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2011, from Mayo Clinic website: rey, R. J. (2003). Conversion Disorder Health Article. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from The Gale Group Inc. website: Frey, R. J. (2003). Conversion Disorder Health Article. Retrieved May 3,2011,from The Gale Group Inc. website: disorder#definitionhttp://health.yahoo.net/galecontent/conversion- disorder#definition Halgin, R.P., & Whitbourne,S.K. (2005) Abnormal Psychology: linical Perspectives on Psychological disorder, New York, NY:McGraw Hill Myers, D.G.(2011). Myers' Psychology for AP, New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Powsner, S. (n.d.). Conversion Disorder in Emergency Medicine Clinical Presentation. Retrieved May 3, 2011, from Medscape website: clinical#showal l

Discussion Questions -Why are women suffering from this disorder and how can it be diminished?