Efficacy of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and SSRI in Treatment of Conversion Disorder

Context: Current understanding of the phenomenon of conversion disorder implicates some role of the unconscious in the pathophysiology of this condition. It is therefore less likely to respond to treatment when the manifestations of the conversion are confronted directly as a unitary method of therapy. Many patients who experience a conversion disorder are unable to understand this inner conflict, which is perhaps occurring on an unconscious level. They may achieve resolution of the conflict, as well as their physical symptoms, once they are gently made aware of this connection. Once the patient is aware of this, the psychological currency of the symptom loses value, and the symptom may be allowed to improve. Efficacy of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and SSRI in treatment of Conversion Disorder reveals that CBT combined with SSRI would be more efficacious to reduce the symptoms severity than SSRI alone for conversion disorder patients.