How can conversion disorder be treated

Usually the symptom itself is not life threatening, but complications can be debilitating. See your provider or mental health professional if you or someone you know has symptoms of a conversion disorder. American Psychiatric Association. Conversion disorder functional neurological symptom disorder. Cottencin O. Conversion disorders: psychiatric and psychotherapeutic aspects. Neurophysiol Clin. PMID: pubmed. Gerstenblith TA, Kontos N.

Somatic symptom disorders. You can help advance rare disease research! This site is in-development and may not reflect the final version. Preview the new GARD site. Other Names:. Functional neurological symptom disorder. Behavioral and mental disorders. Summary Summary. Symptoms Symptoms. Symptoms of conversion disorder can include a variety of neurological symptoms.

Common symptoms of the disorder include sudden blindness , paralysis , loss of the voice, trouble coordinating movements ataxia , loss of the sense of smell anosmia , loss of sense of touch, or tingling in the extremities.

Conversion disorder is more common in women, people of lower socioeconomic status, and people in the military. Most affected individuals first develop symptoms of conversion disorder during adolescence or adulthood.

Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you. Cause Cause. The exact cause of conversion disorder is not well understood. Some researchers believe that conversion disorder is most common after instances of physical or psychological stressors. It may be that symptoms of the disorder allow affected individuals to provide a physical outlet to the stress in their lives.

In these cases, the cause of conversion disorder is unknown. It is possible that these changes in blood flow may be caused by the brain receiving information about physical or emotional stressors.

Inheritance Inheritance. It is not thought that there is a single gene responsible for the development of conversion disorder. In most cases, only one person is identified in a single family. However, it is thought that first-degree female relatives of a person with conversion disorder sister, mother, or daughter , have a times higher chance to develop symptoms than other women in the general population.

Diagnosis Diagnosis. The diagnosis of conversion disorder is based on a healthcare provider observing symptoms consistent with the disorder. Other causes of similar symptoms should be ruled out to avoid a misdiagnosis. Legg, Ph. Overview Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Complications Outlook Conversion disorder is when a person experiences temporary physical symptoms, such as blindness or paralysis, that do not have a physical cause.

What is conversion disorder? Share on Pinterest Triggers for conversion disorder may include stressful events, emotional trauma, and physical trauma. Share on Pinterest Other medical conditions may need to be ruled out, so a doctor may recommended a CT scan. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

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Your medical team provides treatment of any medical or neurological disease you may have that might be a trigger for your symptoms. Even though functional neurological symptoms are not "all in your head," emotions and the way you think about things can have an impact on your symptoms and your recovery.

Psychiatric treatment options may include:. Medications are not effective for functional neurologic disorders, and no drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically as a treatment. However, medications such as antidepressants may be helpful if you also have depression or other mood disorders, or you're having pain or insomnia. Regular follow-up with your medical team is important to monitor your recovery and make changes to your treatment plan as needed. You may start by seeing your primary care doctor.

He or she may refer you to a neurologist. You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember information and for support. Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on.

Your doctor may ask:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.