Which term is used to describe abnormal central nervous system functioning in conversion disorder?

• A. Neurological
• B. Organic
• C. Functional
• D. Psychogenic

Answer: (C)

In conversion disorder, the abnormality is described as functional nervous system functioning. The term functional emphasizes that the symptoms stem from how the nervous system is functioning, not from a structural disease or lesion. There’s no detectable organic damage explaining the symptoms, yet they are real and distressing for the person.

That makes functional the best descriptor. Organic would imply a physical, identifiable brain or nerve pathology. Neurological describes the type of symptoms but not the underlying cause. Psychogenic can be misleading today because it suggests psychological origin or faking; we prefer functional to convey a genuine disturbance in nervous system function without implying intentionality.