Which disorder is characterized by very specific physical symptoms that are not compatible with recognized medical or neurological conditions?

• A. Somatic Symptom Disorder
• B. Illness Anxiety Disorder
• C. Conversion Disorder
• D. Factitious Disorder

Answer: (C)

Neurological-looking symptoms that cannot be explained by medical or neurological disease define this pattern. The person has very specific deficits—such as weakness of a limb, abnormal movements, or sensory loss—that resemble real neurological problems, yet objective tests don’t show an underlying organic cause. Because the symptoms are not due to a known medical condition and are not deliberately produced, this points to a conversion of psychological distress into physical symptoms. It's important to distinguish that these symptoms are not faked or intentional; they reflect an unconscious process. This sets it apart from disorders where the focus is on medical anxiety or health anxiety, or where symptoms are consciously feigned to assume a sick role, rather than representing a genuine neurological presentation with no medical basis.