Conversion Disorder Case Study

After experiencing sudden neurologic symptoms, a twenty-three year old female nutrition assistant was brought to the emergency room by her family. While delivering food, she experienced passing out for short periods of time while on the elevator. After waking up, she experienced blurred vision, seeing only shadows, eventually losing vision in both eyes. She reported the inability to stand as a result of weakness in her left leg. She explained that she was generally in good health, with no significant or chronic medical conditions. She had no reported mental health history or traumatic childhood experiences. There was no reported use of over-the-counter or illicit drugs. The patient’s mother explained to the doctors that her daughter experiences consistent, significant stress from “working two jobs, attending school, being a single parent to a young child, financial difficulties, and a difficult relationship from her child’s father.” Upon physical examination, the patient was alert, awake, and oriented with her surroundings.
All of her vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature were normal, and no abnormalities detected in an electrocardiogram. Upon neurological examination, her speech was normal, her pupils sluggish, but responsive. She could see light shined into her eyes, but …show more content…
It is a medical illness that can also be both or either a dissociative disorder where the patient unintentionally escapes from reality, or a personality disorder where he or she is unable to manage feelings and behaviors that are expected in a given situation. Signs and symptoms often appear with no underlying cause, and are uncontrollable