GITNUXREPORT 2026

Conversion Disorder Statistics

Conversion disorder affects 50 in 100,000 globally, is often triggered by stress, and has a high recovery rate in children.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Diagnosis requires exclusion of neurological disease (95% accuracy)

Statistic 2

DSM-5 criteria met in 85% via clinical interview

Statistic 3

Hoover's sign positive in 60% motor cases

Statistic 4

EEG normal in 98% of non-epileptic seizures

Statistic 5

MRI brain normal in 90%

Statistic 6

Video-EEG telemetry confirms 92% PNES

Statistic 7

Sensitivity of clinical diagnosis 75%, specificity 90%

Statistic 8

fMRI shows voluntary control in 70%

Statistic 9

MMPI-2 detects inconsistency in 80%

Statistic 10

Positive distraction tests in 65%

Statistic 11

Interrater reliability kappa 0.78 for diagnosis

Statistic 12

Rule out MS/SLE first (missed in 5%)

Statistic 13

Symptom validity testing accurate 85%

Statistic 14

DSM-IV to DSM-5 change improves specificity by 15%

Statistic 15

Pediatric diagnosis challenges in 40% due to suggestibility

Statistic 16

Lifetime prevalence of conversion disorder is approximately 5 per 100,000

Statistic 17

Annual incidence rate is 4-5 cases per 100,000 population

Statistic 18

Female-to-male ratio is 2:1 in adults

Statistic 19

Peak age of onset is between 20-40 years

Statistic 20

Prevalence in children is 2-10 per 100,000

Statistic 21

Higher rates in rural populations (up to 20% increase)

Statistic 22

25% of neurology outpatients have conversion symptoms

Statistic 23

Global prevalence estimated at 50 per 100,000

Statistic 24

Increased incidence post-trauma (15% of cases)

Statistic 25

30% comorbidity with anxiety disorders

Statistic 26

Mean duration of symptoms is 6 months

Statistic 27

40% of cases remit within 1 year

Statistic 28

Prevalence in military personnel is 10 per 10,000

Statistic 29

Urban vs rural: 1.5 times higher in urban areas

Statistic 30

Lifetime risk in women: 0.1-0.5%

Statistic 31

15% of cases in adolescents aged 10-19

Statistic 32

Incidence doubled during COVID-19 (from 4 to 8/100k)

Statistic 33

5% of general neurology referrals

Statistic 34

Ethnic minorities show 20% higher rates

Statistic 35

Seasonal variation: peak in winter (25% more cases)

Statistic 36

Childhood sexual abuse history in 30-50% of cases

Statistic 37

Stressful life events precede 70% of onsets

Statistic 38

Trauma association in 40%

Statistic 39

Depression comorbidity in 50%

Statistic 40

Genetic factors contribute 10-20% heritability

Statistic 41

Dissociative disorders overlap in 25%

Statistic 42

Childhood physical abuse in 25%

Statistic 43

Personality disorders in 30% of patients

Statistic 44

Socioeconomic stress factor in 60%

Statistic 45

Hysteria model linked to 80% psychological triggers

Statistic 46

Brain imaging shows altered connectivity in 40%

Statistic 47

Malingering ruled out in 90%, but suggestion plays role in 15%

Statistic 48

Autoimmune links in 5-10%

Statistic 49

Cultural factors influence symptom choice (e.g., trance in 20% Asia)

Statistic 50

Family history of mental illness in 35%

Statistic 51

Perfectionism trait in 45% of cases

Statistic 52

70% spontaneous remission without treatment

Statistic 53

Chronicity in 20-30% after 5 years

Statistic 54

Relapse rate 25% within 2 years

Statistic 55

Full recovery in 90% children vs 60% adults

Statistic 56

Mortality risk 2% from complications

Statistic 57

Disability persists in 15%

Statistic 58

Comorbid anxiety worsens prognosis (40% chronic)

Statistic 59

Early intervention improves outcome by 50%

Statistic 60

5-year follow-up: 50% symptom-free

Statistic 61

PNES prognosis better with therapy (80% control)

Statistic 62

Socioeconomic status predicts recovery (high SES 70%)

Statistic 63

Multiple episodes reduce recovery to 40%

Statistic 64

La Belle indifference correlates with good prognosis (75%)

Statistic 65

Trauma-resolved cases 85% remit

Statistic 66

Long-term SSRI halves chronic risk

Statistic 67

Pediatric cases 95% resolve by adulthood

Statistic 68

Paralysis is the most common symptom (40% of cases)

Statistic 69

Sensory loss reported in 30% of patients

Statistic 70

Non-epileptic seizures in 25% of presentations

Statistic 71

Gait abnormalities in 20% of cases

Statistic 72

Visual disturbances (blindness) in 15%

Statistic 73

Speech disorders (aphonia) in 10%

Statistic 74

Tremor as presenting symptom in 18%

Statistic 75

Weakness or paralysis affects limbs in 50%

Statistic 76

Symptoms often unilateral (60%)

Statistic 77

Sudden onset in 80% of cases

Statistic 78

Associated pain in 35% of patients

Statistic 79

Cognitive symptoms like amnesia in 12%

Statistic 80

Motor symptoms predominate (70%) over sensory (30%)

Statistic 81

Swallowing difficulties (globus) in 8%

Statistic 82

Positive signs (e.g., Hoover's sign) in 65%

Statistic 83

Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy (75%)

Statistic 84

La Belle indifference in 20-30%

Statistic 85

Multiple symptoms simultaneous in 40%

Statistic 86

CBT effective in 70% of treated cases

Statistic 87

Physiotherapy resolves motor symptoms in 60%

Statistic 88

Antidepressants help 50% with comorbid depression

Statistic 89

Hypnotherapy success rate 75% short-term

Statistic 90

Multidisciplinary approach best (80% improvement)

Statistic 91

SSRIs remit symptoms in 45%

Statistic 92

Psychoeducation reduces relapse by 40%

Statistic 93

PT with behavioral reinforcement 65% success

Statistic 94

Family therapy aids 55% pediatric cases

Statistic 95

Mindfulness reduces symptoms 50%

Statistic 96

Placebo response in 30%

Statistic 97

Inpatient rehab 70% discharge improved

Statistic 98

Biofeedback effective 60%

Statistic 99

No benefit from antipsychotics (10% response)

Statistic 100

Internet-based CBT 65% efficacy

1/100

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Imagine a world where your body writes a story of distress that your mind can't put into words—a reality for thousands each year, as conversion disorder, a condition at the compelling intersection of neurology and psychology, reveals itself through startling and often misunderstood symptoms.

Key Takeaways

Lifetime prevalence of conversion disorder is approximately 5 per 100,000
Annual incidence rate is 4-5 cases per 100,000 population
Female-to-male ratio is 2:1 in adults
Paralysis is the most common symptom (40% of cases)
Sensory loss reported in 30% of patients
Non-epileptic seizures in 25% of presentations
Childhood sexual abuse history in 30-50% of cases
Stressful life events precede 70% of onsets
Trauma association in 40%
Diagnosis requires exclusion of neurological disease (95% accuracy)
DSM-5 criteria met in 85% via clinical interview
Hoover's sign positive in 60% motor cases
CBT effective in 70% of treated cases
Physiotherapy resolves motor symptoms in 60%
Antidepressants help 50% with comorbid depression

Conversion disorder affects 50 in 100,000 globally, is often triggered by stress, and has a high recovery rate in children.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis requires exclusion of neurological disease (95% accuracy)
DSM-5 criteria met in 85% via clinical interview
Hoover's sign positive in 60% motor cases
EEG normal in 98% of non-epileptic seizures
MRI brain normal in 90%
Video-EEG telemetry confirms 92% PNES
Sensitivity of clinical diagnosis 75%, specificity 90%
fMRI shows voluntary control in 70%
MMPI-2 detects inconsistency in 80%
Positive distraction tests in 65%
Interrater reliability kappa 0.78 for diagnosis
Rule out MS/SLE first (missed in 5%)
Symptom validity testing accurate 85%
DSM-IV to DSM-5 change improves specificity by 15%
Pediatric diagnosis challenges in 40% due to suggestibility

Diagnosis Interpretation

Diagnosing conversion disorder often feels like carefully ruling out every other possibility, only to discover that the most compelling evidence for it is the brain's own mysterious, and rather insistent, performance art.

Epidemiology

Lifetime prevalence of conversion disorder is approximately 5 per 100,000
Annual incidence rate is 4-5 cases per 100,000 population
Female-to-male ratio is 2:1 in adults
Peak age of onset is between 20-40 years
Prevalence in children is 2-10 per 100,000
Higher rates in rural populations (up to 20% increase)
25% of neurology outpatients have conversion symptoms
Global prevalence estimated at 50 per 100,000
Increased incidence post-trauma (15% of cases)
30% comorbidity with anxiety disorders
Mean duration of symptoms is 6 months
40% of cases remit within 1 year
Prevalence in military personnel is 10 per 10,000
Urban vs rural: 1.5 times higher in urban areas
Lifetime risk in women: 0.1-0.5%
15% of cases in adolescents aged 10-19
Incidence doubled during COVID-19 (from 4 to 8/100k)
5% of general neurology referrals
Ethnic minorities show 20% higher rates
Seasonal variation: peak in winter (25% more cases)

Epidemiology Interpretation

These statistics suggest that conversion disorder, while often dismissed as "all in the head," is in fact a very real neurological event, disproportionately targeting young women, flaring with stress like a pandemic, and stubbornly lingering at the perplexed intersection of mind and body.

Etiology

Childhood sexual abuse history in 30-50% of cases
Stressful life events precede 70% of onsets
Trauma association in 40%
Depression comorbidity in 50%
Genetic factors contribute 10-20% heritability
Dissociative disorders overlap in 25%
Childhood physical abuse in 25%
Personality disorders in 30% of patients
Socioeconomic stress factor in 60%
Hysteria model linked to 80% psychological triggers
Brain imaging shows altered connectivity in 40%
Malingering ruled out in 90%, but suggestion plays role in 15%
Autoimmune links in 5-10%
Cultural factors influence symptom choice (e.g., trance in 20% Asia)
Family history of mental illness in 35%
Perfectionism trait in 45% of cases

Etiology Interpretation

These chilling statistics reveal conversion disorder not as some theatrical charade but as the body's desperate, coded language for trauma—a perfect storm of psychological wounds, biological vulnerability, and societal pressure that manifests as undeniable physical suffering.

Prognosis

70% spontaneous remission without treatment
Chronicity in 20-30% after 5 years
Relapse rate 25% within 2 years
Full recovery in 90% children vs 60% adults
Mortality risk 2% from complications
Disability persists in 15%
Comorbid anxiety worsens prognosis (40% chronic)
Early intervention improves outcome by 50%
5-year follow-up: 50% symptom-free
PNES prognosis better with therapy (80% control)
Socioeconomic status predicts recovery (high SES 70%)
Multiple episodes reduce recovery to 40%
La Belle indifference correlates with good prognosis (75%)
Trauma-resolved cases 85% remit
Long-term SSRI halves chronic risk
Pediatric cases 95% resolve by adulthood

Prognosis Interpretation

It's a cruel neurological lottery where the odds are generally in your favor—unless you're an adult, poor, or untreated—in which case your own mind might just hold you hostage while politely pretending nothing's wrong.

Symptoms

Paralysis is the most common symptom (40% of cases)
Sensory loss reported in 30% of patients
Non-epileptic seizures in 25% of presentations
Gait abnormalities in 20% of cases
Visual disturbances (blindness) in 15%
Speech disorders (aphonia) in 10%
Tremor as presenting symptom in 18%
Weakness or paralysis affects limbs in 50%
Symptoms often unilateral (60%)
Sudden onset in 80% of cases
Associated pain in 35% of patients
Cognitive symptoms like amnesia in 12%
Motor symptoms predominate (70%) over sensory (30%)
Swallowing difficulties (globus) in 8%
Positive signs (e.g., Hoover's sign) in 65%
Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy (75%)
La Belle indifference in 20-30%
Multiple symptoms simultaneous in 40%

Symptoms Interpretation

The mind, as if staging a rebellious one-woman show against medical logic, most often opts for a dramatic limb-paralyzing opening act, favors plot holes in its neural wiring, and frequently casts pain as a supporting character, all while displaying a perplexing nonchalance about the whole production.

Treatment

CBT effective in 70% of treated cases
Physiotherapy resolves motor symptoms in 60%
Antidepressants help 50% with comorbid depression
Hypnotherapy success rate 75% short-term
Multidisciplinary approach best (80% improvement)
SSRIs remit symptoms in 45%
Psychoeducation reduces relapse by 40%
PT with behavioral reinforcement 65% success
Family therapy aids 55% pediatric cases
Mindfulness reduces symptoms 50%
Placebo response in 30%
Inpatient rehab 70% discharge improved
Biofeedback effective 60%
No benefit from antipsychotics (10% response)
Internet-based CBT 65% efficacy

Treatment Interpretation

It appears the mind can often be coaxed, taught, or frankly tricked into healing the body, as no single silver bullet exists but the collective evidence suggests that believing you can get better—especially with a smart, tailored team in your corner—is more than half the battle.

Sources & References

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