What IS Functional Neurological Disorder and can it really be accurately diagnosed?

What is FND Part 2

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is in the category of functional disorders. Primarily it comes from within the functioning of the nervous system. As opposed to any identifiable pathophysiological disease, which is something it shares with both irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Dr Bichard of The Walton Centre describes it as “a problem with the functioning of the nervous system in a structurally normal brain”.

Professor Jon Stone et al used the relatable analogy, “Software rather than a hardware problem” in ‘Recognising and explaining functional neurological disorder’

Previously, FND diagnosis relied on exclusion, leaving questions unanswered, sometimes addressed through psychoanalysis.

Relatively recent developments have increased our understanding of FND. This meant that diagnosis is now arrived at from positive, rule-in signs that can be determined by tests performed under the direct supervision of a neurologist or a neuropsychiatrist, with the presence of psychological stressors being recorded as an adjunct to any of the accepted criteria.

The Aybek and Perez review provides a comprehensive overview of accepted motor signs for FND, presented neatly in tabular form.

Prof. Stone, 2009, also highlights the low misdiagnosis rate of less than five per cent, cautioning against fear of misdiagnosis.

More on Functional Neurological Disorder

Understanding FND is crucial for providing appropriate care and support to those affected by this often misunderstood condition. Learn more about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

See Part 3 where we delve deeper into the factors that make certain individuals more vulnerable to FND.