Conversion Disorder: The Brain’s Way of Dealing with Psychological Conflicts. Case Report of a Patient with Non-epileptic Seizures

Abstract

Conversion disorder or a functional neurological symptom disorder is a psychiatric illness in which psychological conflicts are manifested as physical symptoms. Common examples of symptoms include blindness, paralysis, dystonia, anesthesia, inability to speak, difficulty swallowing, incontinence, balance problems, tremors, difficulty walking, hallucinations, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Conversion disorder is often missed on initial medical and neurological evaluations due to the lack of a definitive organic diagnosis. This case highlights the presentation and diagnostic complication of a patient with conversion disorder and emphasizes the importance of implementing a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of this disorder, including clinician-patient proper communication, proper neurological/epilepsy evaluation, psychiatric therapy, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and pharmacotherapy.