A 35-year-old woman hobbles into the office of a physician complaining of a debilitating illness that has robbed her of the use of her left leg and right arm. The physician finds no physical basis for her symptoms. The patient appears totally unaware that the cause of her symptoms may be psychological. The appropriate diagnosis in this case is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Conversion disorder is characterized by neurological symptoms, such as paralysis, that cannot be explained by medical evaluation and are not intentionally produced, suggesting a psychological origin. The patient's lack of awareness of the psychological nature of her symptoms is also consistent with conversion disorder.

A 35-Year-Old Woman Hobbles into the Office of a Physician