COURSE · PART 6 · MODULE 21
Module 21 — Setbacks, Relapse, and Changing Symptoms
Symptoms can fluctuate, return or change. This module separates three decisions so they do not have to be managed in one reading.
In this module
- compare what is happening with your own familiar pattern;
- respond to a familiar setback without trying everything at once; and
- review and revise the plan later, without treating worsening as failure.
Professional recommendations discuss exacerbation and flexible planning, while harm research supports reassessing new symptoms on their own merits. Neither provides a universal relapse rule. [1][2]
Pages
- Recognize a Setback Versus Medical Change — decide whether the old plan still fits or medical reassessment may be needed.
- Respond During a Setback — use calm first steps, safety and temporary changes.
- Recover, Review, and Update the Plan — make sense of what happened only when you have more capacity.
Inside each page: Person with FND · Supporters · Clinicians · Research
Every page in this module uses these same four main sections.
Research and Sources
| Citation | Full citation |
|---|---|
| [1] | 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 |
| [2] | Mcloughlin C, Lee WH, Carson A, Stone J. Iatrogenic harm in functional neurological disorder. Brain. 2025;148(1):27–38. FND-CIT-0069. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awae283 |
This overview still needs review by people with recurrent or changing symptoms, supporters, neurologists and emergency clinicians.
Plain-language draft and research package prepared: September 9, 2026 · Clinical review pending