Examined the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of conversion disorder. From 2,840 patients attending a psychiatric outpatient clinic (1998-2000) in Jordan, 192 cases of conversion disorder were diagnosed in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteriCharacteristics included source of referral, symptoms, illness duration, psychosocial stress and history. Results show that conversion disorder was more common in patients who are female (57%), aged 10-30 yrs (62%), single (45%), and of low educational attainment. About 68% were referred from the emergency room. The most frequent symptoms were loss of consciousness (21%), pseudoseizure (21%), decreased sensation (18%), hyperventilation (16%) and mutism (12%). The majority presented with a single symptom (82%) and the duration of illness was less than 24 hrs in 56% of patients. Precipitating psychosocial stresses were identifiable in about 85% of patients, and about 58% had a similar episode in the past. Only 9% had additional physical illness, and 58% of cases had concurrent psychiatric disorders, the most common of which were personality disorder and depression.