Visual conversion disorder: a case analysis of the influence of visual information
Article Abstract:
A case history of a rare condition known as visual conversion disorder (hysterical blindness) is presented. Individuals with this condition have been observed to possess various ways of processing visual information. Prior studies have indicated different responses when these subjects have been measured for the performance of visual tasks; often the results have shown that responses are not reflective of total blindness. A 33-year-old single white male who sustained an injury while in military service is described. The subject received a blow to the right eye and subsequently reported pain and loss of vision. Ophthalmological and neurological tests were performed but revealed no abnormalities and no physical explanation could be found to account for the patient's reported lack of vision. The subject was given a set of performance tasks that were dependent upon the processing of visual information. When the patient's responses were assessed, his performance was found to be influenced by both visual information and motivational instructions that were given. However, the patient reported that his actions were not influenced by visual information; he did not acknowledge, or was not aware of, receiving any visual cues. Three general explanations were considered. The patient's apparent blindness may have had an unknown underlying organic cause. Another possible explanation is the patient had a malingering disorder. However, his responses to the tasks were not considered typical for this condition: if the patient was simulating blindness, his scores would most likely have been worse than they were. Another possible influence on these results may be the result of methodological constraints. It was concluded that the results obtained in the testing were generally consistent with previous findings in cases of visual conversion disorder. These testing procedures were an effective diagnostic tool in separating this condition from organic blindness or blindness resulting from other mental disorders. Additional research is recommended to further investigate the processes involved in this disorder. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0021-843X
Year: 1989
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Hypnotic blindness, awareness, and attribution
Article Abstract:
Hypnotism remains both a somewhat mysterious and quite controversial phenomenon. Hypnotic suggestion may lead to apparent amnesia, anesthesia, and even blindness, although in most cases it is impossible to distinguish the subject's experience from his reports of the experience. In order to examine the characteristics of hypnotically suggested blindness, a total of 43 subjects in two separate experiments were hypnotized and blindness was suggested to them. The majority of the subjects reported experiencing either total or partial blindness. During the period of blindness, subjects were shown cards containing the less common spelling of a homophone, a word that sounds the same as another word but is spelled differently. (For example, "pane" sounds the same as "pain", but is a less common spelling.) After the presentation of words, the subjects were asked various questions, including questions of spelling. Subjects gave the uncommon spelling of the homophones with a much higher probably than they might by mere chance, suggesting that the visual information presented to them during their hypnotic blindness had made an impression. When asked about their responses, many subjects attributed them to the "subconscious." (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0021-843X
Year: 1989
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Hypnotic sex change: creating and challenging a delusion in the laboratory
Article Abstract:
An experiment involving the real simulating paradigm of hypnosis of people with varying resistance to hypnosis reveals that people with the highest resistivity exhibit strong resistance to sex change in a transient delusion state. Direct confrontation and contradiction methods help assess the effect of sex change through hypnotism of all the participants.
Publication Name: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0021-843X
Year: 1995
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