What is another name for conversion disorder?

Conversion disorder is also known as Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder. This terminology reflects the understanding of the disorder as a condition where psychological distress manifests as neurological symptoms, such as paralysis or tremors, that cannot be attributed to a medical condition. The use of "functional" emphasizes that the symptoms are real and can significantly impact a person's daily functioning, despite the absence of identifiable organic causes.

The shift in terminology to Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder has been made to better capture the nature of the symptoms and to reduce the stigma associated with past terminology that implied the symptoms were simply "all in the mind." This change also aligns with the growing recognition of the brain-body connection in understanding various psychological and physical health issues.

In contrast, Somatic Symptom Disorder involves a focus on the experience of physical symptoms, which may or may not have a concurrently diagnosed medical condition. Psychosomatic Disorder refers to a broader range of conditions where psychological factors contribute to physical illness. Lastly, Dissociative Disorders pertain to a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory, which is a different diagnostic category altogether.