Describe three ways that a person with a conversion disorder might differ from an individual with a biologically caused physical malfunction.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sample Answer: Conversion disorders generally have to do with physical malfunctioning, such as paralysis, blindness, or difficulty speaking (aphonia), without any physical or organic pathology to account for the malfunction. Most conversion symptoms suggest that some kind of neurological disease is affecting sensory-motor systems, although conversion symptoms can mimic the full range of physical malfunctioning. For this reason, and because the term conversion implies a specific etiology for which there is limited evidence, the name changed to "functional neurological disorder" (with "functional" referring to a symptom without organic cause) in the DSM-5. Conversion disorders provide some of the most intriguing, sometimes astounding, examples of psychopathology. What could possibly account for somebody going blind when all visual processes are normal, or experiencing paralysis of the arms or legs when there is no neurological damage? Conversion symptoms are often precipitated by marked stress. Often, this stress takes the form of a physical injury. In one large survey, 324 out of 869 patients (37%) reported prior physical injury. Thus, if the clinician cannot identify a stressful event preceding the onset of the conversion symptom, the clinician might more carefully consider the presence of a true physical condition.In addition, although people with conversion symptoms can usually function normally, they seem truly unaware either of this ability or of sensory input. For example, individuals with the conversion symptom of blindness can usually avoid objects in their visual field, but they will tell you they can't see the objects. Similarly, individuals with conversion symptoms of paralysis of the legs might suddenly get up and run in an emergency and then be astounded they were able to do this. It is possible that at least some people who experience miraculous cures during religious ceremonies may have been suffering from conversion reactions. These factors may help in distinguishing between conversion and organically based physical disorders, but clinicians sometimes make mistakes, although it is not common with modern diagnostic techniques. In any case, ruling out medical causes for the symptoms is crucial to making a diagnosis of conversion.