New review dispels misconceptions around functional neurological disorder

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) encompasses a wide range of symptoms that result from problems with how the brain and body receive and transmit signals. For patients, this can result in debilitating disability, pain and drastically reduced quality of life. It is one of the most common reasons that people seek help from a neurologist.

However, the treatment of FND has long had doubt cast over it due to implicit bias from health professionals that patients may not be genuine in the reporting of their symptoms.

This study, published in Nature Reviews Neurology and co-authored with Jon Stone (University of Edinburgh) and Mark Edwards (Kings College London), delved into the epidemiological, clinical neuroscience, and neuroimaging evidence as well as neuroimaging data to dispel this assumption.

The findings demonstrate the importance of supportive treatment for FND patients and improved attitudes built on the basis that experiences of the condition are legitimate.

Co-author of the review, Dr Mahinda Yogarajah (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), said:

"Despite how common these disorders are, development of clinical pathways of care, and research into them has been sorely lacking. Part of this reflects an implicit bias in the attitudes of health professionals towards the legitimacy of these conditions. This review brings together the clinical and neuroscience research, which explodes the myth that many patients may be feigning or malingering their symptoms."

Related

• Dr Mahinda Yogarajah’s academic profile
• UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• Why functional neurological disorder is not feigning or malingering

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