Other Conversion disorder?

[shimmerz]

Was it generally time to heal and therapy or did you find anything else had a more direct or immediate impact?

I think it was generally time, @cat-lady. That and a mindfullness while I was going through it to release the energy rather than curl up in a ball and have it recirculate. It took about 2 years for me but my symptoms were pretty dramatic.

 

[biaaw677]

Conversion disorder is a differential diagnosis, not a comorbid diagnosis for PTSD. You're either diagnosed...

What you say is misleading. Comorbid conditions do not depend on each other, they are distinct conditions that a patient patient is clinically identified as having. When one condition replies upon another then one is the primary condition and the other dependent one is the secondary condition. Check a dictionary about this.

Also there is no reason why a patient cannot have two distinctly separate mental health conditions at the same time, or a physical condition and an unrelated mental health condition at the same time, but specialist opinion is needed because sometimes a specific symptom might occur within several conditions. It is the mechanism by which a symptom manifests that distinguishes the diagnosis. Think about it with a physical symptom: patient goes to doctor with pain in chest - diagnosis might be: indigestion, chest infection, broken bone, heart attack - its the way the pain was caused that is key - that is the mechanism.

If you refer to the DSM V dissociative reactions (e.g. depersonalisation and derealisation) are part of a PTSD diagnosis, but there are distinctly separate dissociative disorders including conversion disorder, it is the mechanism by which a symptom presents that has to be clinically evaluated.

 

[anthony]

Comorbid conditions do not depend on each other, they are distinct conditions that a patient patient is clinically identified as having.

Yes, what you're saying is partially correct. They are separate diagnoses, however, they would not exist without the primary diagnosis, hence they are classified as comorbid.

Example: You do not suffer depression, social anxiety, or other such issues. You endure a significant traumatic event and are diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD does not totally cover depressive symptoms, obviously, and if you experience enough of, are then diagnosed with a depressive disorder, comorbid to PTSD, being the disorder of classification of which depression now exists due to the trauma.

Conversion disorder, being this topic, does not cater comorbidity for PTSD.

Then you have differential, which is one or the other possibilities.

 

[biaaw677]

Yes, what you're saying is partially correct. They are separate diagnoses, however, they would not exist...

I disagree with you, you are not looking into the full definition. Maybe the problem is dependent on which version of English you are coming from: US, UK, AUS etc. but the medical definition ought to be fairly consistent otherwise it would cause medical misunderstandings

I checked:

the Cambridge Dictionary at http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/comorbidity "the fact that people who have a disease or condition also have one or more other diseases or conditions: "

the Collins Dictionary at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/comorbid "adjective (of an illness or condition) happening at the same time as another illness or condition"; and

the Oxford dictionary https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/comorbidity, "The simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient."

but also a medical definition at Dead Link Removed "comorbid (kō-môr′bĭd) adj. Coexisting or concomitant with an unrelated pathological or disease process: patients with comorbid diabetes and depression."

plus good old wiki gives a longer explanation at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorbidity"
that includes "The term can indicate either a condition existing simultaneously but independently with another condition or a related medical condition. The latter sense of the term causes some overlap with the concept of complications."

 

[shimmerz]

are then diagnosed with a depressive disorder, comorbid to PTSD, being the disorder of classification of which depression now exists due to the trauma.

So just a question here then. Given what you are suggesting, because PTSD is considered incurable, the depression (or conversion disorder) will be incurable as well?

Also, wondering if this link would be helpful to anyone.
Conversion Disorder - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)

PS - I have been diagnosed with conversion disorder which has eased quite a bit. It is an interesting topic to me as I don't like to think that just because I have PTSD that the conversion disorder is with me for life. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[anthony]

because PTSD is considered incurable, the depression (or conversion disorder) will be incurable as well?

No. Conversion disorder, if diagnosed, has nothing to do with PTSD or its associated diagnoses. PTSD is treatable, meaning that you can no longer meet criterion for it, thus you no longer have it. Once you have PTSD, you are susceptible to it for life.

you are not looking into the full definition

I don't need to. I only need to look at the medical definition, because you are using comorbid in a medical context here, which means only the medical definition applies.

If you want to go argue comorbidity, go start your own thread about it please. This thread is about conversion disorder.

 

[Stacieamy]

Conversion disorder is a differential diagnosis, not a comorbid diagnosis for PTSD. You're either diagnosed...

This is absolutely wrong. In fact, Conversion Disorder is almost always comorbid with another psychological condition. The nature of the disorder essentially determines that there is something else.
Conversion Disorder is very accurately named. When there is a serious psychological issue that is not being dealt with and it reaches a point that it’s too much for the mind, then the brain converts the energy of it into something physiological.
Personally, I prefer citations when I do research, so,
I am two classes from finishing my degree in Psychology.
Also, I deal with it very often. My best friend has severe CPTSD from childhood abuse and combat. He has dealt with some of his things, currently deals with some, but also has more pushed way down. He also has had Conversion Disorder for a few years now.

There are a few videos on YouTube where some very brave souls have recorded and allowed the world to see their CD episodes, so that others can learn.
For accurate information, look at the web address of the link. The best are going to be dot org and dot gov, or anything related to the APA.

 

[anthony]

or anything related to the APA

That's where I get my evidence from. Please evidence your statement. This thread talks about PTSD, yet you're talking about CPTSD. Not the same thing, as complex PTSD, when official in the ICD, may then reference conversion disorder as a cormorbid disorder. The DSM does not for PTSD.

DSM 5 Conversion Disorder Pg 318

Lets add some substance to this discussion.

Diagnostic Features: "Although the diagnosis requires that the symptom is not explained by neurological disease, it should not be made simply because results from investigations are normal or because the symptom is bizarre. There must be clinical findings that show clear evidence of incompatibility with neurological disease."

This is the first caveat psychologists discard for their emotional findings vs. clinical findings that are evidenced.

Whilst conversion disorder is associated to somatic symptoms, and follows stress and trauma, it is not a comorbid diagnosis to PTSD. You are talking about CPTSD, which is not PTSD. Right now, there is no such diagnosis. Please cite your source of coding for CPTSD?

The prevalence for persistent symptoms for conversion disorder, as per psychiatric assessment guides is: 2-5 per 100,000. Also, pretty much anyone other than a neurology clinic making this diagnosis, tends to give it little weight as the guidelines for diagnosis have not otherwise been met by evidence, according to the DSM. If you argue the DSM is wrong... then please evidence.

DSM Comorbidity for Conversion Disorder

Anxiety, depressive and panic disorders are the most common comorbid disorders. Those with conversion disorder are more often diagnosed with a personality disorder.

This is the link to conversion disorder, NOT PTSD.

People need to stop tossing PTSD into every sentence as though its the default diagnosis for anything and everything stress / trauma related. It's not. It's honestly a tiring argument, because the DSM and ICD are pretty straight forward with their documentation for both PTSD. Psychologists need to stop twisting and mixing things to suit themselves. Psychiatrists are the medical doctors, and they're the ones signing off these documents.

Yes... mental health is constantly evolving, but a study or two, a blog post or other, with differing / alternating information, does not change current stance on mental health. It evolves... and that takes time and evidence, and should never be based on anything other than the present evidence that gives strongest influence to the current doctrine.

I am two classes from finishing my degree in Psychology.

And congrats on nearly completing your degree. Well done. I hope you become a good therapist and not another that lets the industry down. The industry has enough of them already... too many actually.

 

[biaaw677]

This is absolutely wrong. In fact, Conversion Disorder is almost always comorbid with another psycho...

You might like to go to this General Forum Thread Comorbidity of disorders where I was directed after challenging a similar point. Also, to explain the similarities and differences between people with PTSD who might have dissociative symptoms or somatic symptoms a good site about conversion disorder is neurosymptoms.org