Table 8.

13 Conversion Disorder Facts at a Glance

Prevalence

Conversion disorder is very rare, with prevalence estimates from o.01% to o.o5% in the general population
and up to 3% of those who are referred to outpatient mental health services.

Comorbidity
Studies have found that up to 85% of people with conversion disorder also have major depressive disorder
(Roy, 1980; Ziegler, Imboden, & Meyer, 1960).
Patients with conversion disorder may also have a neurological disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or a
condition that produces true seizures (Maldonado & Spiegel, 2001).
A history ofsexual or physical abuse is common among patients with conversion disorder (Bowman, 1993).

Onset

This disorder frequently begins during late childhood or early adolescence, and rarely appears after age 35.
Symptoms typically emerge suddenly after a significant stressor, such as the loss of a loved one, or a physi-
cal injury (American Psychiatric Association, 200o; Stone et al., 2009).
For men, the disorder is most likely to develop in the context of the military or industrial accidents
(American Psychiatric Association, 200o; Maldonado & Spiegel, 2001).

Course

Symptoms typically last only a brief period of time.

Between 25% and 67% of those with the disorder have a recurrence up to 4 years later (American Psychiatric
Association, 2000; Maldonado & Spiegel, 2001).

Gender Differences

Conversion disorder is two to ten times more common among women than men (Bowman, 1993; Raskin,
Talbott, & Meyerson, 1966).
Women with the disorder may later develop SD.
Men with the disorder may also have antisocial personality disorder (to be discussed in Chapter 13).

Cultural Differences

Conversion disorder is more common in rural populations, among those from lower SES backgrounds, and
among those less knowledgeable about psychological and medical concepts.
I t is also more common in developing countries than in industrialized countries, and as a country becomes
industrialized, the prevalence of conversion disorder decreases.
Small "epidemics" of conversion disorder have been reported in countries undergoing cultural change or
significant stress (Piñeros, Roselli, & Calderon, 1998; Cassady et al., 2005).
Source: Unless otherwise noted, the source is American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
 Table8.8 Dissociative Identity Disorder
Facts at a Glance

Prevalence

.The prevalence rate for DID is difficult to specify,

although several surveys estimate it to be about 1%
(Johnson et al., 2006; Loewenstein, 1994). However,
some researchers view this figure as a significant
overestimate (Rifkin et al., 1998).

Comorbidity
.People with DID may also be diagnosed with a mood
disorder, a substance-related disorder, PTSD, or a
personality disorder (to be discussed in Chapter 13).
DID may be difficult to distinguish from schizophrenia
or bipolar disorder.

Onset

I t can take years to make the diagnosis of DID from

the time that symptoms first emerge. Because of this
long lag time and the rarity of the disorder, there is no
accurate information about the usual age of onset.

Course

.DID is usually chronic.

Gender Differences

Although women are more likely than men to develop

DID, different studies have found varying gender
ratios, with women three to nine times as likely as
men to receive this diagnosis.

Cultural Differences

.DID is observed only in some Western cultures and

was extremely uncommon before the 1976 televi
sion movie Sybil, which was about a "true case" of
what was then called multiple personality disorder
(Kihlstrom, 2001; Lilienfeld et al., 1999).
Source: Unless otherwise noted, the source is American Psychiatric
Association, 2000.