Conversion without hysteria: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The term 'conversion' implies a correlation between conversion symptoms, hysteria, and hysterical personality. A clinical case of conversion related to chronic post-traumatic disorder, with paranoid features, was successfully treated by anti-psychotic drugs; it illustrates the non-specific nature of conversion symptoms. Mechanic's concept of 'illness behaviour' is a frame-work that meets the need for a broader understanding of conversion symptoms.