Conversion disorder is a mental condition in which a person has blindness, paralysis, or other nervous system (neurologic) symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation.
Conversion disorder symptoms usually come on suddenly and look like problems with your nervous system (brain, spinal cord, or other nerves). Symptoms vary in their number, intensity, and frequency. In some patients, symptoms are always present; in others, they appear, disappear, and reappear. They include:
- Movements that you can’t control
- Tunnel vision or blindness
- Loss of smell or speech
- Numbness or paralysis
- Limb weakness or paralysis
- Memory issues, thinking problems
- Headaches, migraines
- Chronic pain
- Loss of hearing
- Seizures, blackout, fainting
- Tremors, spasms
- Sleep problems
- Overactive bladder
- Hallucinations
Although conversion disorder can occur at any age, it tends to develop during adolescence to early adulthood. Conversion disorder is more common in women. About two-third of the patients with conversion disorder have evidence of psychiatric disease, the most common being depression and trauma. Personality disorders are also commonly seen. It also happens more often to people who have a history of emotional stress or who have a hard time talking about their feelings.
Symptoms can last a few days to several weeks. They might disappear as quickly as they came on. Most of the time, these symptoms are not life-threatening. But, they can have long-term effects on your quality of life if you don’t receive treatment.
Simply knowing that you don’t have a serious physical condition might be sufficient to stop the symptoms. However, receiving help from your doctor from the beginning can make you feel better.
Psychotherapy treatments for conversion disorder include:
- Occupational or physical therapy
- Counseling
- Hypnosis
- Antidepressants or antipsychotic drugs
