DOI: 10.1017/s1092852926101229 ISSN: 1092-8529
Improving care for patients with functional neurological symptom disorder (FND): Clinical pearls for front line providers
Alison Buchholz, Jason Chua, Mackenzie Cervenka, Eva KeatleyAbstract
Our understanding of functional neurological symptom disorder (FND) has evolved more quickly than dissemination of our progressed knowledge. Healthcare providers remain suboptimally educated about and trained in FND-informed care. As a result, patients continue to have harmful interactions with the healthcare system around FND, often beginning with poorly established and delivered diagnosis and uninformed or otherwise lacking treatment planning. This results in iatrogenic harm to patients and misuse of healthcare resources. Appreciating this, providers repeatedly request guidance on FND-informed diagnosis and treatment. This article serves to provide guidance on FND diagnosis and treatment planning for healthcare providers and patients.