conversion disorder

conversion disorder
conversion disorder n a psychoneurosis in which bodily symptoms (as paralysis of the limbs) appear without physical basis called also conversion hysteria, conversion reaction

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a psychological conflict or need that manifests itself as an organic dysfunction or physical symptom. The sufferer may display symptoms of blindness, deafness, loss of sensation, gait abnormalities, or paralysis of various parts of the body. None of these can be accounted for by organic disease. Conversion disorder was formerly known as hysteria. It is classified with dissociative disorder (as dissociative (conversion) disorders) in ICD-10 (see International Classification of Diseases). It is also included under the classification of somatoform disorders.

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[DSM-IV] a mental disorder characterized by conversion symptoms (loss or alteration of voluntary motor or sensory functioning suggesting physical illness, such as seizures, paralysis, dyskinesia, anesthesia, blindness, or aphonia) having no demonstrable physiological basis and whose psychological basis is suggested by (1) exacerbation of symptoms at times of psychological stress, (2) relief from tension or inner conflicts (primary gain) provided by the symptoms, or (3) secondary gains (support, attention, avoidance of unpleasant responsibilities) provided by the symptoms. Many patients exhibit “la belle indiffйrence,” a lack of concern about the impairment caused by the symptoms; histrionic personality traits are also common. Symptoms are neither intentionally produced nor feigned, and are not limited to pain or sexual dysfunction.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Conversion disorder — Classification and external resources ICD 10 F44 ICD 9 300.11 …   Wikipedia

  • conversion disorder — Psychiatry. a mental disorder in which physical symptoms, as paralysis or blindness, occur without apparent physical cause and instead appear to result from psychological conflict or need. Also called conversion hysteria. * * * ▪ psychology… …   Universalium

  • conversion disorder — noun a mental disorder characterized by the conversion of mental conflict into somatic forms (into paralysis or anesthesia having no apparent cause) • Syn: ↑conversion reaction, ↑conversion hysteria • Hypernyms: ↑mental disorder, ↑mental… …   Useful english dictionary

  • conversion disorder — a psychological conflict or need that manifests itself as an organic dysfunction or physical symptom. The sufferer may display symptoms of blindness, deafness, loss of sensation, gait abnormalities, or paralysis of various parts of the body. None …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • conversion disorder — noun Date: 1980 a psychoneurosis in which bodily symptoms (as paralysis of the limbs) appear without physical basis called also conversion hysteria, conversion reaction …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Conversion Disorder introduced —    (1795)    The term conversion had occasionally been used in humoral medicine in the sense of the complication of a disease or the side effect of a treatment. In 1795, John Ferriar (1763–1815), physician to the Manchester Infirmary and Lunatic… …   Historical dictionary of Psychiatry

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  • Disorder — may refer to : Chaos, unpredictability and in the metaphysical sense, it is the opposite of law and order Civil disorder, one or more forms of disturbance caused by a group of people Disease, an abnormal condition affecting the body of an… …   Wikipedia

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  • Conversion syndrome — describes a condition in which physical symptoms arise for which there is no clear explanation. The term stems from the 19th century European conception of hysteria, which itself can be traced back to Ancient Egyptian papyri from the 16th century …   Wikipedia

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