This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

General clinical features of conversion (hysterical) disorders

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical features occur with:

  • an absence of pathology
  • they are produced unconsciously
  • there is often obvious discrepancy between signs and symptoms
  • they are not produced by sympathetic overactivity

The reproduction of disease depends upon the patient's experiences and will be most accurate in those that know much about the particular condition they think they suffer from.

There may often be a source of secondary gain, and patients show an indifference to their condition called "la belle indifference". Patients seldom present after the age of 40 years.

The features that may occur in this condition are diverse.

The higher centres and the CNS are most commonly affected and these may produce symptoms such as paralysis, sensory loss, amnesia etc. The condition may present with pseudo-dementia in which there is a development of a psychotic state. The patient may feel pain that is of hysterical origin.

Other characteristic symptoms include:

  • suggestibility - of hypnosis
  • symbolic meaning of the symptoms - for example blindness after viewing infidelity

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.