Conversion disorder

Conversion disorder is an old name for a mental illness in which psychological conflicts or emotions are expressed unconsciously as bodily symptoms. Conversion disorder is also know as Functional neurological symptom disorder or FND, and is regarded as a psychosomatic illness. Conversation disorders have also been called psychogenic or functional illnesses.

Effects
Symptoms diagnosed as conversion disorder may not be seen as a "real illness" in need of medical care, or as not a serious illness.

Conversion disorder, and psychosomatic illnesses in general, may be overdiagnosed, especially in females. Multiple sclerosis was previously regarded as a type of conversion disorder called hysterical paralysis and treated as a mental illness.

ME/CFS
Some patients with ME/CFS or other physical illnesses are misdiagnosed with conversion disorder, which can result inappropriate treatment, and serious harm.

Learn more

 * Differentiating Psychosomatic, Somatopsychic, Multisystem Illnesses and Medical Uncertainty