What condition is indicated by involuntary or unconscious production of symptoms that the patient believes are real?

The correct condition indicated by involuntary or unconscious production of symptoms that the patient believes are real is conversion disorder. This disorder is characterized by the presence of neurological symptoms that are inconsistent with known medical or neurological conditions. Patients with conversion disorder often exhibit symptoms such as weakness, abnormal movements, or sensory deficits that they cannot control, and they genuinely believe that these symptoms reflect a serious underlying medical issue, despite there being no medical explanation.

In contrast, Ganser's syndrome, while it involves instances of providing approximated or incorrect answers and may include confusion or dissociative symptoms, does not primarily focus on the production of physical symptoms. Instead, it relates more to cognitive disruptions and is often associated with severe stress or trauma.

Capgras syndrome involves a belief that a familiar person has been replaced by an imposter, which is a delusional misidentification and does not involve the production of physical symptoms.

Illness anxiety disorder, formerly known as hypochondriasis, involves excessive worry about having or acquiring a serious illness; however, unlike conversion disorder, this condition does not involve the unconscious production of physical symptoms but rather persistent anxiety over one’s health without substantial physical findings.

Thus, conversion disorder best fits the description of involuntary symptom production that the patient