The fundamental psychological and physiological differences between conversion symptoms, vegetative neuroses and organic disease are elaborated. A conversion symptom is the symbolic expression of a well-defined complex by the voluntary neuromuscular or sensory perceptive systems whose original function is to relieve emotional tension. The symptoms simultaneously express both the repressed emotion and its rejection. Partial relief is obtained through the pathological part of the symptom.

A vegetative neurosis consists of a psychogenic dysfunction of a vegetative organ which is not under control of the voluntary neuromuscular system. Such