What is the Difference Between Somatic Symptom Disorder and Conversion Disorder?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Somatic Symptom Disorder and Conversion Disorder are both mental health conditions characterized by physical symptoms that are not fully explained by a medical condition or are excessive with regard to the medical condition. However, there are differences between the two conditions:
Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD):
- Involves a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness, or shortness of breath, causing major distress and/or problems functioning.
- The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the physical symptoms.
- The physical symptoms may or may not be associated with a diagnosed medical condition.
- Diagnosis is based on the extent to which the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the illness are excessive or out of proportion, not solely because a medical cause cannot be found.
Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder):
- Involves symptoms that affect a person's perception, sensation, or movement with no evidence of a physical cause.
- Symptoms may include numbness, blindness, or trouble walking.
- The symptoms tend to come on suddenly and may last for a long time or go away quickly.
- People with conversion disorder also frequently experience depression or anxiety disorders.
In summary, the main difference between Somatic Symptom Disorder and Conversion Disorder lies in the nature of the physical symptoms and the individual's response to them. In Somatic Symptom Disorder, the focus is on the excessive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the physical symptoms, while in Conversion Disorder, the symptoms affect a person's perception, sensation, or movement without a clear physical cause.
Comparative Table: Somatic Symptom Disorder vs Conversion Disorder
Here is a table comparing Somatic Symptom Disorder and Conversion Disorder:
| Feature | Somatic Symptom Disorder | Conversion Disorder |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A condition where a person experiences multiple somatic symptoms simultaneously without a well-established organic cause. | A type of somatic disorder characterized by neurological symptoms, such as numbness, blindness, paralysis, or fits, which are not consistent with a well-established organic cause. |
| Symptoms | Multiple somatic symptoms of varying intensity. | Symptoms affect the senses or movement, such as blindness, partial paralysis, or loss of sensation. |
| Onset | Symptoms arise in response to stressful situations or psychological distress. | Symptoms are linked to a psychological trigger, such as stressor, trauma, or psychological distress. |
| Diagnosis | Difficult to diagnose due to the lack of a definitive way to measure somatic symptoms. | Challenging to diagnose because the symptoms could be faked, imagined, exaggerated, or real. |
In summary, Somatic Symptom Disorder is characterized by multiple somatic symptoms, while Conversion Disorder, also known as Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder, is a type of somatic disorder with neurological symptoms. Both disorders lack well-established organic causes and are challenging to diagnose due to the complex nature of somatic symptoms.
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