Other symptoms include simulated convulsions and the loss of one of the special senses, such as vision or hearing. Generally, the onset of symptoms is linked to some distressing social or psychologically stressful event. A person may have only a single episode or sporadic episodes, but usually the episodes are brief. If people with conversion symptoms are hospitalized, they generally improve within 2 weeks. The diagnosis tends to be difficult to make at first because the person believes that the symptoms stem from a physical problem and doesn't want to be seen by a psychiatrist.
Doctors take great care to be certain no physical disorder is responsible for the symptoms.
A trusting doctor-patient relationship is essential to treatment. As the doctor evaluates a possible physical disorder and reassures the person that the symptoms don't indicate a serious underlying disease, the person usually begins to feel better and the symptoms fade. When a psychologically distressing situation has preceded the onset of symptoms, psychotherapy can be particularly effective. Occasionally, conversion symptoms recur frequently and even become chronic. One method is hypnotherapy.