MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 205: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 205

3. Conversion disorder is characterized by:

  • A. a constant fear of being ill.
  • B. panic attacks and severe anxiety.
  • C. frequent vague complaints about a physical symptom.
  • D. functional impairment of a limb or sensory ability with no apparent physical cause.

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Conversion disorder is a somatoform disorder in which a person displays blindness, deafness, or other symptoms of sensory or motor failure without a physical cause (choice D is correct). A constant fear of illness refers to hypochondriasis, not conversion disorder (choice A is wrong). Panic attacks and severe anxiety are symptoms of anxiety disorders, while conversion disorder is a type of somatoform disorder (choice B is wrong). Frequent vague complaints about physical symptoms are characteristic of somatization disorder, not conversion disorder (choice C is wrong).

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