From hysteria to conversion disorder: The profile of the sufferers

Introduction The aim of this paper is to draw a profile for the people who present with symptoms of conversion disorder through a review of past papers. Methodology Pubmed and PsycInfo were searched using the terms “conversion disorder”, “hysteria” “pseudoseizures”, “dissociative disorders” and “somatoform disorders”. We reviewed the literature published over the last 40 years and examined historical references. Results Conversion disorder has been associated with psychiatric comorbidity, significant life events as well as physical illness while cultural aspects of the patients’ life play an important role as well. Patients with conversion disorder also appear to have certain personality characteristics, level of education and socioeconomic background while in some studies association with preceding neuropsychiatric conditions has been found. Discussion Patients diagnosed with conversion disorder seem to be mainly females in their early thirties and tend to have characteristics of negativism, somatisation and dissociative tendencies, compulsivity and emotional dysregulation. There is a lot of evidence supporting the idea that neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse during childhood seems to be related to a later development of conversion disorder in adulthood. Conclusion All the above findings can guide clinicians when it comes to formulating a more robust differential diagnosis for patients presenting with symptoms resembling conversion disorder.