Can anyone tell me about conversion disorder?

Question

20 year old athletic college female has headaches, dizziness and fainting episodes. Many tests taken; all negative, altho these symptoms started after she had a concussion a year ago. Her last fainting episode was 20 min. long.

Answer 1

Conversion disorder is a psychosomatic condition where the patient displays signs and symptoms that are not of medical origin. There is usually some percipitating event...often something traumatic were the body learns to cope by displaying somatic complaints (complaints of real physical symptoms). This should not be confused with someone who is malingering (faking) because the person with conversion disorder experiences these symptoms as very real events. It is not under conscious control, but does require psychological intervention.

Answer 2

Here's info from my site about Conversion Disorder/Psych/Beh. Med. It sounds to me tho' that what she's got is not 'Conversion Disorder' (since she had that head injury). But, here's what you asked for:
1a) Conversion Disorder: The patient has symptoms that suggest a physical disorder but assessment and evaluation don’t reveal a physiological cause. The symptoms are a manifestation of a conflict, trauma, or stress.

Symptoms/Manifestations include:

the inability to produce sound (‘aphonia’)
blindness
deafness
loss of sense of touch
lump in the throat/dysphagia
impaired balance/coordination/paralysis
seizures
urinary retention
a lack of concern about the the symptoms or limitation on functioning (‘La belle indifference’).
Testing:

Confirmation is determined by ruling out expected findings.
Nursing Diagnoses:

Anxiety
Ineffective coping
Low self-esteem (chronic).
Treatment:

Individual therapy
Meds:

Benzodiazepines:

lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax).
Interventions:

Safe environment
Keep focus away from symptoms (to help to express anxiety and learn to recognize the anxiety).
Have patient identify emotional conflicts that began before the symptoms. This makes the relationship between the conflict and the symptoms more clear.
Promote social interaction. This decreases the patient’s level of self involvement.
Identify constructive coping mechanisms. This will get the patient to use practical coping skills and to relinquish the role of being sick.
While providing support, set limits on the patients sick behavior.
Teach the patient to use stress reducing methods.

Answer 3

go to a neurologist!