What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a condition where there is a malfunction in the way the brain sends and receives signals throughout the nervous system.¹ This results in an onset of symptoms, which may include, but are not limited to difficulty walking, difficulty seeing, abnormal movements, and seizure-like activity. FND sits at the intersection of neurology and psychiatry and requires a multidisciplinary approach to address all aspects of this disorder.²
Once the FND diagnosis is confirmed by a medical provider (typically by a neurologist), providing comprehensive education is widely viewed as the first step in the treatment of FND.³ The patient must have an excellent understanding of how FND works, especially in relation to their symptoms, otherwise progress is seldom made. This initial diagnostic education should also include information on treatment therapies and goal setting for recovery.
The treatment team typically consists of an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, and a mental health provider. OT and PT will use techniques to reduce symptoms and will also teach the patient coping strategies to help them address their symptoms independently. Finding the right strategies is highly individualized and can even vary from day to day. It’s important to have a repertoire of activities as well as a plan of when to use each one, based on the situation or symptoms.
At The Therapy Collaborative, we provide a Functional Neurological Disorder collaboration session that is wellness-based. This service can be accessed by anyone nationwide and is conducted virtually. These sessions are not considered therapy, but will help with your child’s recovery by providing thorough education on the FND diagnosis. This session is a great opportunity if you have questions or need help creating your FND treatment plan, especially if you do not have any FND-trained therapists near you.
We are also happy to help with your FND recovery through our therapy services. Please see our Services page for more information on our therapy sessions and location options. As always, if you have any questions or need help determining what service is best for your child, please contact us.
References:
What is FND. FND Hope International. (2023, June 27). https://fndhope.org/fnd-guide/
Basics of functional neurological disorder (FND). Massachusetts General Hospital. (n.d.). https://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/treatments-and-services/functional-neurological-disorder-basics
Functional neurologic symptom disorder (FND). Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder . (n.d.). https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/psychiatry/documents/clinical/fnd/FNDClient-Intro.pdf
