Those who aren't immersed in the world of neurology (or who don't have direct experience with it) are probably not too familiar with conversion disorder. One of the worst kinds is something known as a psychogenic seizure, affectionately known to neuro reidents as a "fake seizure". Incredibly, about half (yes, half, as in every other patient) of patients who present to the hospital with seizures are actually suffering from conversion disorder.

The article seems to paint conversion disorder (and psychogenic seizures) as an uncontrollable condition. For some it is. For others, it's no more than a voluntary cry for attention. Many of these people were abused and neglected, and the hospital is the only place they can get anyone to care about them. This has led to a situation where neurologists have developed and are trained in many tests to see if a condition is real or not (for example, limb stiffness and reflexivity for a seizing patient). It's a giant waste of money and time for everyone.

Unfortunately, because of the way Medicaid works (most of these people are poor, and not middle class school girls, although that makes a better story, hence the Atlantic, and they sure as shit aren't getting any specialized treatment from a bunch of docs), it's impossible to just send them to the psych unit. Instead, they are discharged until they present again with the same symptoms.

Anyway, I know this is a little off topic, but I don't want everyone who read this (admittedly interesting) article to get the wrong idea about conversion disorder. It's a fascinating subject that transcends mass hysteria and Facebook, and is all too common in the real world.