conversion disorders

conversion disorders

[kən′vərzh·ən dis‚ȯrd·ərz]

(psychology)

Somatoform disorders characterized by physical symptoms referable to the somatosensory nervous system or special sensory organs that cannot be explained on the basis of a medical or neurologic disease and that are caused by psychological factors. Symptoms include paralysis, blindness, ataxia, aphonia, and numbness of the feet.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.