What is conversion hysteria?

Conversion hysteria is another term for conversion failure. The patient with this disorder is experiencing neurological or physical problems without any known cause. It is assumed that the suffering transmits psychological anxiety to physical symptoms. Common symptoms include paralysis and numbness. Patients may also experience symptoms that mimic conditions such as heart attacks and viral infections without actually having these conditions.

The DSM-IV guide provided by the American Psychiatric Association categorizes conversion hysteria as a somatoform disorder. This type of failure is characterized by the transmission of mental symptoms to physical. The manual provides criteria for characterizing conversion failures. The criteria include symptoms that resemble a medical or neurological condition that affects sensory or voluntary motor skills, psychological influences and unintentional knowledge of symptoms.

Conversion hysteria often occurs in conjunction with Hypochondemriasis, Malingering and Munchhausen's Syndrom. hypochondriasis is a disorder that occurs when the patient believes that he has specific conditions, although testing has shown that there are no such conditions. Craming occurs when one manifests symptoms and understands why the symptoms pretend. Munchhausen's syndrome, also called a factual disorder, is the opposite of Malingering. The patient shows symptoms that do not have a real diagnosis, but he or she does not know why he pretends these symptoms.

There are several different theories that explain the possible causes of hysteria conversion. Psychoanalytic theories suggest that conversion disorders are the result of the internalization of unconscious discs that must not be expressed. This theory, as another alternative, also suggests that physical symptoms may occur as a result of the patient's need to suffer. Therapists treat conversion disorders by helping patients find more suitable ways to defend themselves.

conversion disorderIt is possible to explain differently using the theory of socio -culture. According to this theory, the ban on emotional expression in many cultures of some patients leads to the transmission of their emotions to physical symptoms as a way of communication. Culturally acceptable rituals can be a way to treat conversion hysteria, allowing the outlet to express emotions. When emotions can be released instead of internalized, physical symptoms may begin to disappear.

Theory of learning theory also has an explanation for conversion hysteria, suggesting that conversion disorders behavior is due to the secondary gain that the patient experiences. The patient continues to transform physical symptoms because the behavior is still strengthened. Strengthening in this case can be anything that the patient considers to be a reward, including special attention and gifts. Top -towering involves the therapy of behavior modification that helps the patient to understand that it is more advantageous to stop the exposure of physical symptoms.