What Is Conversion Disorder?

History Of Conversion Disorder

Conversion disorder has actually been described for thousands of years, though it hasn't always gone by that name. In 1900 BC, Egyptian medical practitioners believed symptoms of neurological dysfunction were caused by the movement of the uterus throughout the body. Treatment was varied based on where the uterus had moved. The original name for conversion disorder was hysteria. There's a long history of women with hysteria being exorcised or subject to inhumane medical treatments in an attempt to 'restore equilibrium.' It wasn't until the nineteenth century that hysteria was classified as a psychological disorder instead of a neurological one. There was a great deal of debate in the psychological communities regarding what exactly hysteria was and what caused it. Many psychologists sought to find a unifying factor that explained how conversion disorder occurs. In today's thinking, psychologists believe there isn't one underlying cause. The methods that cause symptoms to convert from mental to physical vary depending on the patient. What therapeutic techniques are most effective will also vary from patient to patient.