Systematic enhancement of functioning as a therapeutic technique in conversion disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neurology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Conversion disorder presents with neurological symptoms without a clear organic cause.
• Existing literature lacks specific, practical therapeutic techniques for symptom removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail a novel therapeutic technique for symptom removal in conversion disorder.
• To present case studies demonstrating the efficacy of this technique.

Main Methods:

• Systematic enhancement of functioning was employed.
• This involved encouraging patients to express desired behaviors to their maximum extent.
• Patients then gradually amplified these responses to achieve normal functioning.

Main Results:

• One patient with conversion dumbness was successfully treated in a single session.
• Another patient with conversion paraplegia was successfully treated over two weeks.
• The technique proved simple, practical, and effective in both cases.

Conclusions:

• Systematic enhancement of functioning is a viable and effective therapeutic technique for conversion disorder.
• This method offers a practical approach for symptom removal and behavioral amplification.
• The technique's potential application across various behavioral amplification scenarios warrants further investigation.