Conversion disorder is often called hysteria; symptoms include which of the following?

Conversion disorder is often called hysteria; symptoms include which of the following?

• A. Hallucinations.
• B. Paralysis, tremors, mutism, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, temporary blindness, or seizures.
• C. Chronic worry about illness.
• D. Recurrent intrusive thoughts and compulsions.

Answer: (B)

Conversion disorder presents with neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical illness and are not intentionally produced. Historically called hysteria, it features motor and sensory problems that don’t fit a known neurological disease and often follow psychological stress. The symptoms listed—paralysis, tremors, mutism, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, temporary blindness, or seizures—are classic examples of such nonorganic neurological manifestations. This breadth of motor and sensory complaints without a medical basis is why this option is the best fit for conversion disorder. Other choices point to different conditions: hallucinations align with psychotic disorders, chronic worry about illness with illness anxiety disorder, and recurrent intrusive thoughts with compulsions with OCD.

Conversion disorder presents with neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical illness and are not intentionally produced. Historically called hysteria, it features motor and sensory problems that don’t fit a known neurological disease and often follow psychological stress. The symptoms listed—paralysis, tremors, mutism, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, temporary blindness, or seizures—are classic examples of such nonorganic neurological manifestations. This breadth of motor and sensory complaints without a medical basis is why this option is the best fit for conversion disorder.

Other choices point to different conditions: hallucinations align with psychotic disorders, chronic worry about illness with illness anxiety disorder, and recurrent intrusive thoughts with compulsions with OCD.