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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffConversion disorder symptoms usually appear suddenly after a stressful event. Common symptoms can include:
- Poor coordination or balance
- Paralysis in an arm or leg
- Difficulty swallowing or "a lump in the throat"
- Inability to speak
- Impaired vision, including double vision and blindness
- Deafness
- Seizures or convulsions
Other conversion disorder symptoms include:
- Loss of balance
- Numbness or loss of the touch sensation
- Inability to feel pain
- Hallucinations
- Difficulty with walking
- Urinary retention
When to see a doctor
It's best to seek medical attention as soon as you notice symptoms that might be caused by conversion disorder. If the underlying cause of your signs and symptoms is actually caused by something physical, quick diagnosis and treatment may be important. If the diagnosis is conversion disorder, then psychological help may improve the symptoms and prevent future episodes.
- Conversion disorder. In: First MB, et al. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Nov. 28, 2008.
- Stonnington CM, et al. Conversion disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163:1510.
- Chew K. Conversion disorder. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115619319-3/788576277/1701/146.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50006-9--subchapter42_3054. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
- Conversion disorder. In: Moore D, et al. Moore & Jefferson: Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia. Pa.: Mosby; 2004.http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115619319-3/788576277/1243/93.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02911-6..50093-2_871. Accessed Jan. 1, 2009.
