When making a diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder, what differentiates it from conversion disorder?

Choice A reason: Conversion disorder does not require that symptoms be consciously feigned. In fact, the symptoms are involuntary and not under conscious control. Misattributing intentionality would lead to a diagnosis of factitious disorder or malingering, not conversion disorder. Choice B reason: Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness is more characteristic of illness anxiety disorder, not somatic symptom disorder. SSD focuses on distress and behaviors related to actual somatic symptoms. Choice C reason: Somatic symptom disorder is defined by the presence of one or more distressing somatic symptoms accompanied by excessive and disproportionate thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to those symptoms. This cognitive-emotional preoccupation is the hallmark of SSD. Choice D reason: La belle indifference may be observed in some cases of conversion disorder but is not a required diagnostic criterion. It refers to a paradoxical lack of concern about serious symptoms, but its absence does not rule out conversion disorder.