Psychological diseases that cannot be explained by organic reasons, are thought to be due to psychosocial or emotional reasons, and progress with physical complaints are called somatoform diseases. Conversion disorder; It is one of the somatoform disorders. The word conversion means 'to turn'.
Conversion Disorder;
- Motor
- Sensory
- Non-epileptic seizures
- Mixed type
They are divided into 4 subtypes. Examples include paresis, paresis, and plegia among motor findings; anesthesia, paresthesia, blindness among neurological findings; and fainting among non-epileptic seizures.
In conversion disorder; The presence of psychological stressors such as family conflicts, loss or trauma, which are temporally related to the emergence of one or more physical signs and symptoms, are important components. Symptoms can often appear immediately after the psychological stressor or hours, days, weeks later.
What may be the causes of conversion disorder?
In research, data on genetic transmission is limited.
Familial factors are more emphasized. Familial functions are generally weak in children and adolescents with this disorder.
Three types of family structures attract more attention:
1.Anxious families: Families that are excessively preoccupied with the disease.
2.Chaotic families: In such families, physical complaints are usually the way to attract attention.
3 .Balancing families: The sick child in the family takes part in expressing and reflecting family problems, that is, the child signals that there is a problem in the family with converting symptoms.
What is the psychogenic effect of conversion disorder in children and adolescents?
1. The child and/or adolescent gets rid of the subconscious conflict.
2. Responsibility and expectations are removed, that is, secondary gain is achieved. .
Prevalence
Conversion disorder is more common in eastern culture. Generally, its prevalence in children and adolescents is 2-3%. 10-15% of these conversions, the most common, are non-epileptic pseudo-fainting seizures.
The most important thing to know about conversion disorder is; The findings are not made consciously and planned. However, secondary gains as a result of the symptoms and/or wrong attitudes of the family may increase its continuity or severity.
The prognosis of conversion disorder in children and adolescents is generally good. Studies show that 80-85% of patients recover after 4 years.
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