Soon after Anne has her first child, she returns to work. Her mother objects, saying that putting a child in a day-care center is immoral. After two weeks at work, Anne develops tingling and numbness in her hands that, within days, progress to total anesthesia in both hands from the wrists down. Anne's physician cannot find a physical cause for her problem. He suggests that she is suffering from a(n) ________ disorder.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder involves physical symptoms that cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. The onset of symptoms is often associated with a stressful or traumatic event, such as returning to work and leaving a child in daycare. The tingling and numbness in Anne's hands could be a manifestation of her anxiety and stress related to this situation, which is characteristic of conversion disorder. None of the other disorders listed fit with the symptoms described.

Soon After Anne Has Her First Child, She Returns to Work