Conversion Disorder - Presentation

Presentation

Conversion disorder can present with motor or sensory symptoms including any of the following:

Motor symptoms or deficits:

• Impaired coordination or balance
• Weakness/paralysis of a limb or the entire body (hysterical paralysis or motor conversion disorders)
• Impairment or loss of speech (hysterical aphonia)
• Difficulty swallowing or a sensation of a lump in the throat
• Urinary retention
• Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or convulsions
• Fixed dystonia unlike normal dystonia
• Tremor, myoclonus or other movement disorders
• Gait problems (Astasia-abasia)
• Syncope (fainting)

Sensory symptoms or deficits:

• Impaired vision (hysterical blindness), double vision
• Impaired hearing (deafness)
• Loss or disturbance of touch or pain sensation

Conversion symptoms typically do not conform to known anatomical pathways and physiological mechanisms, but instead follow the individual's conceptualization of a condition. Typically, the less medical knowledge a person has, the more implausible are the presenting symptoms. Persons with more sophisticated medical knowledge tend to have more subtle symptoms and deficits that may closely simulate neurological or other general medical conditions.