Walsh & Hoyt: Hysterical (Nonorganic) Hemianesthesia

Hysterical hemianesthesia is a conversion reaction that usually involves the entire left side of the body. It is regularly associated with loss of all types of sensation on the involved side, including the special senses. More important is the characteristic affect on the patient, who invariably displays complete indifference to severe, often absolute, sensory loss. The patient may deny any corneal sensation, even though the corneal blink reflex is normal and symmetric on the two sides. All modalities of sensation are reduced or absent over the side of the face and the corresponding side of the body. The grossness of the sensory loss often helps to distinguish hysterical hemianesthesia from organic disease of the brain.