Meena, a Class 12 student in Lucknow, had been under heavy pressure from her family to top the board examination. On the morning of her first paper, she woke up and found that she could not see anything. Her parents rushed her to an eye hospital, where every test of her eyes and nerves came out normal. Meena did not seem very worried about her state and said calmly that she would not be able to write the paper. Over the next few weeks, after her exams were put off and the pressure eased, her sight slowly came back.
Which of the following disorders does Meena's condition most likely show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Conversion disorder
Option (1) Somatic symptom disorder — Incorrect. In somatic symptom disorder the person has body-related complaints, such as aches, with no medical condition to explain them. Meena did not complain of aches; she lost a whole sense, which points to a different disorder of this group.
Option (2) Illness anxiety disorder — Incorrect. Illness anxiety disorder is worry about the possibility of developing a serious illness. Meena was calm about her state and was not anxious about falling ill, so this does not fit.
Option (3) Conversion disorder — Correct. In conversion disorder a person loses a motor or sensory function, such as sight or movement, with no physical cause. It may be a response to stress. Meena's sudden blindness before the exam, with normal eye tests and recovery once the pressure eased, fits this.
Option (4) Dissociative amnesia — Incorrect. Dissociative amnesia is loss of memory for important personal information, often linked to stress. Meena's problem was with her sight, so this is a dissociative disorder that does not match her case.
NCERT (2026-27): “Dissociative Disorders … |