Conversion Disorder - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Conversion disorder is a psychiatric condition in which emotional distress and medical problems. Conversion disorder is one of several types of somatoform disorders in which psychological problems produce physical symptoms. Conversion disorder is rare. It afflicts women more often than men and is more common among people between 10 and 35 years of age. Psychological factors are judged to be associated with the symptom or deficit because the initiation or exacerbation of the symptom or deficit is preceded by conflicts or other stressors. Conversion reactions usually approximate lesions in the motor or sensory pathways of the voluntary nervous system. Symptoms most commonly weakness, paralysis, sensory disturbances, pseudoseizures, and involuntary movements such as tremors. Patient's whose symptoms are limited to pain or sexual functioning are not classified under conversion disorder. Conversion disorder may affect people at any age. While some studies have suggested that conversion disorder occurs more frequently in women, it can affect both men and women.