What diagnosis might a social worker consider for an 18-year-old experiencing loss of sensation in his left hand after his father's death?

The scenario presents an 18-year-old experiencing a loss of sensation in his left hand following the emotional trauma of his father's death. In considering the context of the symptoms and the associated emotional factors, conversion disorder emerges as a relevant diagnosis.

Conversion disorder, also known as functional neurological symptom disorder, is characterized by neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by medical conditions and are often related to psychological stress or trauma. In this case, the young man's loss of sensation can be seen as a physical manifestation of his grief and emotional distress following his father's death. This aligns with the key feature of conversion disorder wherein psychological issues present themselves as physical symptoms.

Unlike somatic symptom disorder, which involves excessive worry about physical symptoms and their implications, conversion disorder specifically emphasizes the conversion of emotional distress into physical symptoms. Therefore, in this context, conversion disorder is the most fitting diagnosis for the symptoms described following the acute emotional trauma of bereavement.