Conversion Disorder
Nursing
Name
Institution
Conversion Disorder
Introduction
Conversion disorder refers to a mental health condition that has symptoms that indicate neurological signs such as speech impairment, numbness, paralysis, blindness, and tremors but without any neurological cause, substance abuse or physical disease. These symptoms are preceded by psychological stress or conflicts in life. This disorder is caused by psychological reactions from a highly stressful condition or event. Other psychological disorder and depression are common in patients experiencing conversion disorder (Voon et al, 2010). The condition may take a long period to develop and thus it is crucial for therapists to understand the client’s past life in relation to the contributing factors. People with medical illness, dissociative and personality disorder are at a greater risk of developing this condition.
Etiology
Conversion disorder is also referred to as hysterical neurosis. The conditions are considered as unfortunate because symptoms are much more common to unsophisticated and uneducated people (Kanaan et al, 2007). The real conversion symptoms are generally an extension or reflection of symptoms seen or experienced by patient. In most cases, when the symptoms of the disorder arise, a reduction on anxiety level is realized. Close inspection confirms that symptoms are not premeditated but simply happens. Although the observers may have a feeling that there is a purpose behind the symptoms, the patient is usually unaware of any of such things.
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Although pathophysiologic relevance is not clear, PET scanning has indicated that patients with conversion hemianesthesia or hemiplegia have reduced activation of thalamus and contralateral basal ganglia. This is likely to represent premorbid vulnerability to the advancement of conversion symptoms. On the other hand, it may be unrelated and epiphenomenal to the underlying causes. Most people experience their initial
Name
Institution
Conversion Disorder
Introduction
Conversion disorder refers to a mental health condition that has symptoms that indicate neurological signs such as speech impairment, numbness, paralysis, blindness, and tremors but without any neurological cause, substance abuse or physical disease. These symptoms are preceded by psychological stress or conflicts in life. This disorder is caused by psychological reactions from a highly stressful condition or event. Other psychological disorder and depression are common in patients experiencing conversion disorder (Voon et al, 2010). The condition may take a long period to develop and thus it is crucial for therapists to understand the client’s past life in relation to the contributing factors. People with medical illness, dissociative and personality disorder are at a greater risk of developing this condition.
Etiology
Conversion disorder is also referred to as hysterical neurosis. The conditions are considered as unfortunate because symptoms are much more common to unsophisticated and uneducated people (Kanaan et al, 2007). The real conversion symptoms are generally an extension or reflection of symptoms seen or experienced by patient. In most cases, when the symptoms of the disorder arise, a reduction on anxiety level is realized. Close inspection confirms that symptoms are not premeditated but simply happens. Although the observers may have a feeling that there is a purpose behind the symptoms, the patient is usually unaware of any of such things.
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Although pathophysiologic relevance is not clear, PET scanning has indicated that patients with conversion hemianesthesia or hemiplegia have reduced activation of thalamus and contralateral basal ganglia. This is likely to represent premorbid vulnerability to the advancement of conversion symptoms. On the other hand, it may be unrelated and epiphenomenal to the underlying causes. Most people experience their initial
References: Anthony, E. et al. (2005). Antidepressant Treatment Outcomes of Psychogenic Movement Disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Vol 66(12), Dec 2005, 1529-1534. Retrieved from doi: 10.4088/JCP.v66n1206 Kanaan, R. et al. (2007). Imaging Repressed Memories in Motor Conversion Disorder. Journal of Biobehavioral Science.Retrieved from doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31802e4297 Karin, R. et al. (2005). The Impact of Early Trauma and Recent Life-Events on Symptom Severity in Patients With Conversion Disorder. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease: Retrieved from doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000172472.60197.4d Voon, V. et al. (2010). The involuntary nature of conversion disorder. Journal of Neurology. Retrieved from doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181ca00e9 Voon, et al. (2010). Emotional stimuli and motor conversion disorder. A journal of Neurological. Retrieved from doi: 10.1093/brain/awq054