A mental disorder known as hysteria causes disturbances in motor or sensory function that are sometimes referred to as “conversion symptoms,” as well as a restriction of the patient’s field of consciousness, memory loss, or a dramatic change in personality.
Conversion and dissociative disorders have now taken the place of hysteria in the ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR, respectively.
Females typically outnumber males, but in children the percentage tends to be similar in both boys and girls. Hysteria accounts for approximately 6-15% of all outpatient diagnoses and 14-20% of all neurotic disorders.
Causes
Psychoanalytic Theories
Therefore, the following symptoms of hysteria could appear:
A forbidden wish or impulse may be allowed to be expressed, but only in a disguised manner.
By creating a crippling symptom out of a forbidden wish, one can punish themselves.
To get out of a dire situation where one’s life is in danger.
Behavioral Theory
Dissociative and conversion symptoms, according to this theory, are learned reactions to stress and may be picked up for the first time from the environment, such as seeing a paralyzed patient.
By helping people avoid stress, the symptom’s development provides psychological relief and is subsequently reinforced.
Biological Theory
An etiology involving genetics is not supported by strong evidence.
Symptoms
Conversion Disorder Symptoms (Physical Symptoms)
The following signs and symptoms are associated with conversion disorder:
·Motor :Fits, tremors, rigidity, ataxia, paresthesia, and paralysis.
·Sensory General:Anesthesia, Paraesthesia, Hyperalgesia, Pain.
·Sensory Special :Having trouble seeing, being blind or deaf, or losing your sense of taste or smell.
·Visceral :vomiting, nausea, urinary incontinence, and coughing
Dissociative Disorder Symptoms (Mental symptoms)
The following signs and symptoms are those of dissociative disorder:
·Amnesia:Typically, it begins abruptly, and significant portions of life—and occasionally even personal identity—are forgotten.
·Fugues:It is a wandering condition accompanied by amnesia for the time the wandering took place.
·Hysterical seizures:True epileptic seizures typically lack a number of characteristics, such as lack of consciousness, an unusual pattern of physical side effects (tongue biting, incontinence), do not occur while you are sleeping, lack post-seizure sequelae (confusion, headache, bodyache, vomiting, paralysis), and an abnormal EEG.
·Multiple personalities :The “new” personality contrasts sharply with the “normal” personality, abruptly switching between two behavioral patterns, each of which is forgotten when the other is present.
·Hysterical Pseudodementia :Simple memory tests are answered incorrectly but in a way that implies that the right response is already known.
·Hysterical Psychosis :the patient’s conception of what is insane.
·Trance/ Twilight states:Dream like states.
Management
· Behavior Therapy
· Psychotherapy with Abreaction
· Supportive psychotherapy
· Drug therapy
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
When it comes to treating hysteria, there are many effective medicines available in homoeopathy, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking their mental and physical symptoms into account. Homoeopathy is currently a rapidly expanding system that is used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual by promoting inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels.
IGNATIA AMARA:Great sensitivity to outside stimuli, alternate laughter and crying, flushing of the face at the slightest emotion, spasmodic laughter that frequently ends in screaming, the presence of the globus hystericus and the clavus hystericus, which manifests as a sharp pain, like a nail being driven into the top of the head, and the emission of profuse, pale urine, which frequently relieves the headache.
ASAFOETIDA:The globus hystricus, or feeling of a ball in the throat, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of hysteria; it appears with this medication to be a sort of reversed peristalsis, and it is especially the remedy if the nervous symptoms are in any way related to the checking of habitual discharges. Another significant symptom of Asafoetida is the accumulation of flatus in the abdomen; it passes upwards and causes oppressed breathing
MOSCHUS:The hallmark of Moschus is fainting, which is particularly the remedy for paroxysm. Other symptoms include profuse discharge of pale urine, globus hystericus, headache, and flatulent symptoms.
TARENTULA HISPANA:The most noticeable side effect of the medication is restlessness and trembling of the limbs; the patient is compelled to keep moving constantly. There is excessive hyperaesthesia, the spine is sensitive, the ovaries are sensitive, and there is likely to be nymphomania. It has been found helpful in hysterical epilepsy, which, by the way, is a condition where the patient experiences uncontrollable fits of laughter.
PLATINUM:The genital organs are extremely sensitive; there is likely to be titillation, even nymphomania; there is present constriction of esophagus and a present hysterical spasm.
VALERIANA OFFICINALIS:The patient must move constantly, but exertion causes headaches, and the slightest pain results in fainting. There is a feeling that something warm is rising from the stomach, which makes breathing difficult. There is also present fear, trembling, and palpitation. There is a general state of nervous excitement; the patient is likely to be joyful, lively, and talkative. Flushes of heat are also present. It also has the globus hystericus, which is a lump on
NUX MOSCHATA:It is particularly well suited to nervous hysterical individuals who shift abruptly from grave to gay, but its most notable characteristics are its sleepiness, bloating after eating, and dryness of the mouth. It also has attacks of fainting, the patient is exhausted from the slightest effort, and there is continued constant nervous tension. It also has a dry, nervous, hysterical cough, oppression of the chest, and fainting fits. Inclination to faint is quite common with the drug.
GELSEMIUM:Gelsemium is adapted to both male and female onanists, and corresponds particularly to the hysteria. It is especially the remedy in hysterical convulsions with spasm of the glottis.
PULSATILLA NIGRICANS:The hysterical symptoms of Pulsatilla are quite noticeable; it has a constriction in the throat, something there seems to prevent speech; profuse watery urine; changeable moods; mild, timid, emotional, and tearful; weeps easily; whining; craves sympathy and consolation, and seems to be made better by it; open air relieves the Pulsatilla patient; menses are scanty; and the patient complains of constipation.
BELLADONNA:Belladonna may be used to treat hysteria when the patient exhibits signs of the drug’s side effects, such as excessive boisterous excitement, a flushed face, dilated pupils, and a wild expression.
KALI PHOSPHORICUM:The globus hystericus is present, there are fits of crying, laughing, and yawning, there may be spasms with unconsciousness, the abdomen is tympanitic and sensitive to the slightest pressure, and the patient has a nervous dread without apparent cause and sees the dark side of everything. This remedy, one of the tissue remedies, has been found clinically to be one of our good remedies in hysteria.
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