Final answer:
Conversion symptoms are physical manifestations of psychological distress, while factitious symptoms are intentionally created or feigned by an individual.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conversion symptoms are physical manifestations of psychological distress that often arise from unconscious processes. They involve the loss or alteration of sensory or motor functioning without any identifiable organic cause. For example, someone may experience temporary blindness or paralysis, which cannot be explained by any known medical condition.
Factitious symptoms, on the other hand, are intentionally feigned or created by an individual. People with factitious disorder will deliberately induce or exaggerate symptoms to gain attention or deceive others. They may intentionally contaminate a urine sample, fabricate blood test results, or even harm themselves to mimic the symptoms of a specific illness.
In summary, conversion symptoms are involuntary physical manifestations of psychological distress, while factitious symptoms are intentionally feigned or created by an individual for personal gain or deception.