COURSE · PART 1 · MODULE 1
Module 1 — What Is Functional Neurological Disorder?
A short starting point for understanding what FND is, what **functional** means, what remission and recovery may mean, and how changing available capacity can guide early action.
What this module teaches
- FND symptoms are real and involuntary. [1][3]
- FND should be diagnosed from positive clinical features, not simply because tests are normal. [1][2]
- Psychological stress or a psychiatric condition is not required for an FND diagnosis. [2][3]
- Another medical or neurological condition can be present alongside FND. [1]
- There is no established cure for FND. Remission and recovery are explained as separate ideas, with outcomes varying across people and symptom types. [4][5][6]
- Symptoms may recur or worsen regardless of what a person knows, tries, or has achieved. Symptom severity is not a measure of effort, acceptance, treatment participation, or personal progress. [4][5]
- Available capacity is a project planning description of what a person can use now and what recovery may cost. It can guide discussion across symptom types but is not a biomarker, an autonomic measurement or a guarantee that a flare can be prevented. [5]
Pages
- What “Functional” Means and How FND Can Appear — terminology, symptom range, positive diagnosis, and what “functional” means.
- The Biopsychosocial Model and Misconceptions — what the model can explain, what it cannot prove, and common misunderstandings about psychological causes.
- Remission, Recovery, and What Improvement Can Mean — the course definitions of remission and recovery, different outcomes, and prognosis conversations without blame.
- Available Capacity, Spoons, and Early Action — community and clinical capacity models, signs that capacity is narrowing, and ways to change demands or support before a possible flare.
Inside each page: Person with FND · Supporters · Clinicians · Research
Research and Sources
| Citation | Figure | Full citation |
|---|---|---|
| [1] | — | Bennett K, Diamond C, Hoeritzauer I, Gardiner P, McWhirter L, Carson A, Stone J. A practical review of functional neurological disorder (FND) for the general physician. Clinical Medicine. 2021;21(1):28–36. FND-CIT-0001. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2020-0987 |
| [2] | — | Espay AJ, Aybek S, Carson A, et al. Current concepts in diagnosis and treatment of functional neurological disorders. JAMA Neurology. 2018;75(9):1132–1141. FND-CIT-0002. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1264 |
| [3] | — | Hallett M, Aybek S, Dworetzky BA, McWhirter L, Staab JP, Stone J. Functional neurological disorder: new subtypes and shared mechanisms. The Lancet Neurology. 2022;21(6):537–550. FND-CIT-0003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00422-1 |
| [4] | — | Gelauff J, Stone J, Edwards M, Carson A. The prognosis of functional (psychogenic) motor symptoms: a systematic review. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2014;85(2):220–226. FND-CIT-0007. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2013-305321 |
| [5] | — | Nicholson C, Edwards MJ, Carson AJ, et al. Occupational therapy consensus recommendations for functional neurological disorder. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2020;91(10):1037–1045. FND-CIT-0011. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2019-322281 |
| [6] | — | Rutten S, Bradley-Westguard A, Nicholson TR, et al. Outcome measurement in functional neurological disorder: a qualitative study on the views of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Journal of Neurology. 2025;272:189. FND-CIT-0012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-025-12912-9 |
Updated: September 4, 2026 · Review pending