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Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2006) 12: 152-157
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Conversion disorder: the modern hysteria

Colm Owens and Simon Dein

Colm Owens is a specialist registrar in old age psychiatry at Chase Farm Hospital (Enfield, Middlesex EN2 8JL, UK. E-mail: colm.owens{at}beh-mht.nhs.uk.). Simon Dein is a senior lecturer in medical anthropology at University College London and honorary consultant neuropsychiatrist at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex. Both authors have an interest in liaison psychiatry. Simon Dein has extensive experience of treating patients with conversion disorders and also has an interest in hypnotherapy.

Conversion disorders tend to be poorly understood and diagnosis can be difficult. In this article, we aim to clarify what conversion disorders are and how they can be distinguished from other psychiatric disorders that involve physical symptoms. Prevalence, prognosis and relationship to organic disease are controversial areas; we outline what is known about them and provide some historical context. Aetiological theories and management strategies are discussed, the latter with the aid of case vignettes.