Critical Appraisal on Self Concept in Conversion Disorders

Conversion Disorder is characterized as symptoms mimicking neurological disorder with no underlying physical or medical problem, psychogenic in nature and the onset of symptoms must be recognized or related to psychological stress. The self concept in conversion disorder seems to be distorted and limited. The aim of the study is critical appraisal on self concept in Conversion Disorder and the objectives are to review the studies on self concept in Conversion Disorder. Pubmed, Jastor, Elsevier and Indian Journal of Psychiatry were searched using the word hysteria or conversion disorders, self image, self efficacy, self regulation, ideal self, self esteem and self concept. It was found that patient with Conversion Disorder has a sense of self of a small, fearful and defective child coping in a world dominated by powerful others, they have frustrated needs and accompanied by frustration in the need for ‘self-esteem and self-actualization, Lack awareness of their self efficacy, heightened self-monitoring and construct myths of self which testify to the sincerity and significance of their conversion experiences, may involve a form of deception. It was also found that Repression replaces the unconscious with self deception, they have low self esteem and significantly increased activation in areas involved in the ‘freeze response’ to fear (periaqueductal grey matter), and areas involved in self-awareness and motor control (cingulate gyrus and supplementary motor area).