Answers and Hope

My main original question was why does Conversion disorder affect people differently? I think I may have the answer! The May 17, 2011 article Conversion Disorder: Advances in Our Understanding in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports “results suggest that patients with conversion disorder have an abnormal pattern of cerebral activation in which limbic areas (or areas richly connected to the limbic system) override the activation of the motor and sensory cortices.” Wow!

Let me break this down. The limbic system is the part of our brain that controls our emotions.  So the limbic system overrides the parts of the brain that we use to move and sense things. Depending on which part of the brain is overridden is what symptoms are experienced by the patient. Totally makes sense!

Those results are from different studies that were performed with MRI and SPECT scans. The article does state that there needs to be more clinical trials done, but they did research several different studies that have been done.

So let’s move on to my next question. Why is it so hard to diagnose? The answer is that until there is more research done there will be no test for conversion disorder. Studies are starting to show what is happening in the brain, but there is no full explanation for it and no one thing that stands out in all cases. Since the symptoms can easily be something else you can only test for everything possible and then when you find nothing go for the conversion disorder.

Before I go on I think I should explain that conversion disorder is categorized in a group of mental disorders called somatoform disorders. Upon further research I found an article in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry that was insightful. In the March 2004 article Somatization and Conversion Disorder Dr. Trevor Hurwitz wrote “conversion reactions represent a somatic defense against threats to mental stability that are most commonly attributable to an underlying mood disorder.”  I must say that I get angry when I read this. It is commonly known that conversion disorder is due to mood disorders? We went months with the diagnosis of conversion disorder and nobody even thinking of a mood disorder! My husband got better as soon as he was diagnosed bipolar and treated for it. We wasted months of pain, suffering, and piling up the medical bills when this is common. This makes me furious!

Dr. Hurwitz continues on to say that “physicians are usually baffled and annoyed by patients with conversion disorders and remain too quick to dismiss any new somatic symptom as ‘more of the same’ to the patients’ great detriment.” So basically, I can expect this kind of treatment to continue throughout my husband’s life. Any time he gets sick I can expect to have to convince the doctor that he is sick. This is going to be a fun ride. 

While one of the studies focuses on why conversion disorder happens the other was more focused on past beliefs. I am so glad that we finally have evidence that there is something going on within the brain. It adds more to our argument that this is not "faked" and there is something wrong. At the same time, Dr. Hurwitz hit my experience on the head with the mood disorder. Even so, I feel like he is still looking for a mentally ill patient to be unconciously faking it. He thinks they are looking for attention. He is wrong. My husband and others like him are ashamed for their condition.


Since I refuse to end this on a negative note I wanted to include something that made me feel inspired. It may not add to the research, but those who have struggled with this nasty disorder will feel every bit the way I did.

Image by fndhope.org

I am still left to wonder so much. Why mental illness is not considered the same as a physical illness? How can a doctor see a patient convusing in his examination room and tell him it is all in his head? It may be in my head, but that does not mean it does not need to be corrected! According to my psychologist one out of four people suffers from mental illness. I will find out my mental status next week. All of my family is being tested since it is in our genes. My husband has it from both parents side, and I have an aunt with bipolar. Both of my kids were tested and my daughter is bipolar. I went through the test and will recieve results next week. 

Works Cited

Feinstein, Anthony. "Conversion Disorder: Advances In Our Understanding." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 183.8 (2011): 915-920. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2012.


Hurwitz, Trevor A. "Somatization And Conversion Disorder." Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry 49.3 (2004): 172-178. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 July 2012.