The word conversion means“transformation”. Conversion disorder is when negative emotions such as anger, sadness, fear and disappointment that develop in a short time after a distressing event turn into physical symptoms that resemble a physical disease (especially a neurological disease). Up to 10-15 different types of conversion disorder can be encountered in clinical settings, the most common type being the fainting type.
The cause of conversion fainting is psychological stress that develops suddenly and is heavy on the person. The most common trigger event we see; Arguments between lovers or spouses, parent-child fights, daughter-in-law-mother-in-law fights and other close circle problems. The person's personality structure (mostly immature or hysterical personality), level of intelligence, ability to find solutions to problems and resistance to stress are important factors. If the person cannot overcome the problems that arise, cannot express his/her feelings and desires verbally, cannot create a solution by talking, if the solutions he puts forward are not taken into account by his interlocutors and if he experiences blockage, the risk of conversion fainting occurring and becoming permanent increases.
Conversion fainting occurs more frequently in women than in men. It is more common, most of those who apply to Emergency Departments are young or middle-aged people. Muttering, crying, beating, and irregular contractions in the hands and feet are frequently observed during fainting. The symptoms of conversion disorder are not created deliberately and consciously, that is, the person is not playing the theater of illness, and therefore the person should not be accused of̏ you are faking it, you are playing the role of being sick, or you are faking fainting. Some people may deliberately play the role of being sick in order to gain a certain benefit or to avoid a certain responsibility. The clinical picture that occurs in them is called malingering, not conversion disorder, and they do this deliberately and with the aim of deceiving those around them.
Fainting due to physical illness The main reason is; It is the temporary inability of the nerve cells that provide consciousness in the brain to function. Before fainting due to physical illness; malaise, s. Dizziness, blackout, difficulty speaking, fog of consciousness and tendency to sleep may occur. Epilepsy (Epilepsy), cardiovascular diseases, low or high blood pressure, blood sugar changes, blockage or bleeding in the brain vessels, high fever and infectious diseases, malnutrition, poisoning, extreme fatigue, excessive insomnia, alcohol or drug use, etc. factors may cause fainting. Therefore, first the cause of fainting is determined, and then treatment is applied according to the cause.
Conversion faints are most often confused with epilepsy seizures. It is also possible that both types of fainting occur together in some epileptic patients. Conversion faints last longer than epileptic faints, sometimes lasting 25-30 minutes and sometimes several hours. Conversion faints occur when the person is conscious and there are people around him, but not when he is alone. Epilepsy blackouts can occur anytime, anywhere, in any situation, including sleep, and they do not last much longer than 30-60 seconds. During epileptic seizures, the person may suddenly fall, have a sudden seizure, burns or injuries may occur. In conversion faints, such an injury does not occur and the person lands softly on the ground. In epileptic fainting, the person may clench his teeth, his tongue and lips may be injured, and he may leak urine and feces.
Such situations are rare in conversion fainting. Conversion faints can change shape. An attack in the same person may have a different appearance than another attack occurring at a different time, but epilepsy attacks mostly have a similar appearance from the beginning. In the treatment of conversion fainting, the person's problem solving and verbal communication skills are tried to be improved. The patient's close circle should also be informed about the treatment process and included in the treatment process. Psychological conflicts within the family and the immediate environment should be addressed and tried to be resolved. If the patient also has depression, anxiety disorder, or somatization disorder, other treatment options, including medication, should be thoroughly reviewed.
Read: 0
