Supporting someone

Reach practical support without treating the person as a burden or the supporter as the cause.

Believe the person, then ask what helps

FND symptoms are real and involuntary. They can affect movement, sensation, seizures, speech or thinking, and the support someone wants may change from day to day.

What to do next: Ask what kind of help is wanted today rather than assuming from the diagnosis alone.

Important limit: A supporter cannot diagnose a symptom or event from appearance.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

WHO ICD-11 2026 — World Health Organization. ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, 2026-01 release.
FND subtypes and shared mechanisms — Hallett M, Aybek S, Dworetzky BA, McWhirter L, Staab JP, Stone J. Functional neurological disorder: new subtypes and shared mechanisms. Lancet Neurol. 2022;21(6):537-550.
Diagnosis and management of FND — Aybek S, Perez DL. Diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorder. BMJ. 2022;376:o64.
Practical review for physicians — Bennett K, Diamond C, Hoeritzauer I, et al. A practical review of functional neurological disorder for the general physician. Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21(1):28-36.
Explanation as treatment — Stone J, Carson A, Hallett M. Explanation as treatment for functional neurologic disorders. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;139:543-553.
Positive-sign accuracy review — Patwal R, Jolly AJ, Kumar A, Yadav R, Desai G, Thippeswamy H. Diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs and investigations for functional weakness, sensory and movement disorders: a systematic review. J Psychosom Res. 2023;168:111196.
Cautionary diagnostic notes — Perez DL, Aybek S, Popkirov S, et al. Cautionary notes on diagnosing functional neurologic disorder as a neurologist-in-training. Neurol Clin Pract. 2021;11(1):e72-e76.
Seizure semiology meta-analysis — Muthusamy S, Seneviratne U, Ding C, Phan TG. Using semiology to classify epileptic seizures vs psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: a meta-analysis. Neurol Clin Pract. 2022;12(3):234-247.
Functional gait sign-based approach — Nonnekes J, Ruzicka E, Serranova T, Reich SG, Bloem BR, Hallett M. Functional gait disorders: a sign-based approach. Neurology. 2020;94(24):1093-1099.

Last checked: 2026-07-16

Jurisdiction: UK; UK by nation

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Correction route: Report changed or inaccurate information without including personal health information.

You matter in this too

Partners, relatives and friends need information that speaks to them directly. Your own worry or exhaustion can be acknowledged without blaming families for FND.

What to do next: Choose what you need now: episode help, appointments, practical support or support for yourself.

Important limit: Supporter information should not override the person's consent, preferences or voice.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

Stakeholder views on outcomes — Rutten S, Bradley-Westguard A, Nicholson TR, Pick S. Outcome measurement in functional neurological disorder: a qualitative study on the views of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. J Neurol. 2025;272:189.
FND stigma systematic review — Caoimhe McLoughlin, Laura McWhirter, Katerina Pisegna et al. Stigma in functional neurological disorder (FND) - A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2024;112:102460.
Caregiver depression and anxiety in functional seizures — Konstantinos Tsamakis, Diane L Teagarden, Hannah K Villarreal et al. Depression and anxiety in caregivers of patients with functional seizures. Epileptic Disord. 2023;25(2):200-208.

If this is a familiar functional seizure

Follow the person’s agreed plan. Calm communication, reducing immediate hazards and protecting dignity may help. Do not restrain them, use painful stimulation or accuse them of faking.

What to do next: Open the functional-seizure page and select the familiar-event context.

Important limit: A first, new, changed, injured, uncertain or medically concerning event follows ordinary urgent or emergency assessment instead.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

NICE NG217 epilepsy diagnosis — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Epilepsies in children, young people and adults: diagnosis and assessment (NG217). Updated 30 January 2025.
NICE FND quality statement — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Quality statement 5: Functional neurological disorders in adults (QS198). 2021.
NHS general seizure first aid — NHS. What to do if someone has a seizure (fit). Reviewed 19 December 2023.
NHS GGC FDS self-management — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Dissociative Seizures: Self Management and the Wellness Toolbox. Version 2; reviewed 30 May 2025.
Epilepsy Society FDS first aid — Epilepsy Society. Non-epileptic (functional/dissociative) seizures. Page metadata updated 30 April 2026; visible clinical-content note updated October 2025 and review due October 2027.
Exploratory low-intervention study — Kyrgyzbay G, et al. Low-intervention care and duration of functional seizures: an exploratory study. Seizure. 2026;139:118-123.
Iatrogenic harm in FND — McLoughlin C, et al. Iatrogenic harm in functional neurological disorder. Brain. 2025;148(1):27-38.
AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
NHS GGC FDS FAQ — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Dissociative Seizures: Frequently Asked Questions. Version 2; reviewed 30 May 2025.
AAN functional-seizure guideline — Tolchin B, Goldstein LH, Reuber M, et al. Management of Functional Seizures Practice Guideline Executive Summary: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee. Neurology. 2026;106:e214466.

Make a plan together, before it is needed

A plan can describe familiar events, warning signs, awareness, communication preferences, immediate safety, usual recovery and any clinician-agreed exceptions.

Words that help—or do not help
Whether touch, space, quiet or privacy is preferred
What usual recovery looks like
Who should be contacted
What would be new or different enough to seek assessment

What to do next: Draft it together, then take it to the relevant clinician for review.

Important limit: The website draft is not an emergency plan and never authorises coercion.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
AAN functional-seizure guideline — Tolchin B, Goldstein LH, Reuber M, et al. Management of Functional Seizures Practice Guideline Executive Summary: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee. Neurology. 2026;106:e214466.
Acute seizure action-plan recommendations — Penovich P, Glauser T, Becker D, et al. Recommendations for development of acute seizure action plans (ASAPs) from an expert panel. Epilepsy Behav. 2021;123:108264.
NHS GGC FDS self-management — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Dissociative Seizures: Self Management and the Wellness Toolbox. Version 2; reviewed 30 May 2025.
NHS GGC FDS FAQ — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Dissociative Seizures: Frequently Asked Questions. Version 2; reviewed 30 May 2025.

Help at appointments without taking over

With the person's agreement, a supporter can help organise questions, describe a witnessed event, note answers and check who owns the next action.

What to do next: Agree before the appointment what the supporter should contribute and what remains private.

Important limit: Witness information can assist assessment but does not diagnose the event.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

AAN functional-seizure guideline — Tolchin B, Goldstein LH, Reuber M, et al. Management of Functional Seizures Practice Guideline Executive Summary: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee. Neurology. 2026;106:e214466.
NICE NG217 epilepsy diagnosis — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Epilepsies in children, young people and adults: diagnosis and assessment (NG217). Updated 30 January 2025.
Explanation as treatment — Stone J, Carson A, Hallett M. Explanation as treatment for functional neurologic disorders. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;139:543-553.
NICE FND quality statement — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Quality statement 5: Functional neurological disorders in adults (QS198). 2021.
Motor and sensory FND lived experience — Bailey C, Tamasauskas A, Bradley-Westguard A, et al. What are the experiences of people with motor and sensory FND? A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. Disabil Rehabil. 2025;47(1):1-15.
NHS England FND minimum services — NHS England. Annex A: Specialised Neurology Service Specification—Minimum Services for Neurology Subspecialties. August 2025.
Scotland FND pathway — NHS Scotland Centre for Sustainable Delivery. Functional Neurological Disorder pathway. Current at 14 July 2026.
Wales FND national optimal pathway — NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, Neurological Conditions Network. National Optimal Pathway for Functional Neurological Disorder: adults aged 16 and over. March 2026.
Journey to diagnosis and care — Pritomanova S, et al. The journey to diagnosis and care of functional neurological disorder. PLoS One. 2026;21:e0328321.
NHS patient-experience service evaluation — O'Keeffe S, Chowdhury I, Sinanaj A, et al. A service evaluation of the experiences of patients with functional neurological disorders within the NHS. Front Neurol. 2021;12:656466.
PIF TICK quality criteria — Patient Information Forum. PIF TICK criteria at a glance. Reviewed October 2024.
NHS booking and referral standard — NHS England. NHS Booking and Referral Standard. Accessed 14 July 2026.

Practical support differs across the UK

Care-needs and carer assessments work differently across the four nations. An assessment can identify needs, but it cannot promise a particular service or free ongoing care.

England: council care-needs assessment and separate carer's assessment
Scotland: council care-needs assessment and Adult Carer Support Plan
Wales: local-authority care and support assessment and carer's-needs assessment
Northern Ireland: Health and Social Care Trust assessment-of-need and carer's assessment

What to do next: Use the nation-specific official route in Find help.

Important limit: This is navigation information, not legal advice or an eligibility decision.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK by nation

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

England care-needs assessment — NHS. Getting a care needs assessment.
Scotland care-needs assessment — Care Information Scotland. Assessment of your care needs.
Wales care and support assessment code — Welsh Government. Assessing care and support needs of individuals: code of practice.
NI health and social-care assessment — nidirect. Arranging health and social care.
England carer's assessment — NHS. Carer's assessments.
Scotland adult carer support plan — mygov.scot. Get an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement.
Wales unpaid carers charter — Welsh Government. Charter for unpaid carers.
NI carer's assessment — nidirect. Assessments for carers.

Planning for everyday life

This guide can help a family describe practical needs and find the right assessment process. It does not judge parenting, decide capacity or produce a safeguarding verdict.

What to do next: Describe the practical difficulty, how it varies, what help is already in place and what could make daily life safer or more manageable.

Important limit: Urgent risks use existing emergency and safeguarding routes.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

Acas reasonable adjustments — Acas. What reasonable adjustments are.
PIP assessment guide — Department for Work and Pensions. PIP assessment guide, part 1: the assessment process.
England care-needs assessment — NHS. Getting a care needs assessment.
England Disabled Students' Allowance — GOV.UK. Disabled Students' Allowance.
Wales care and support assessment code — Welsh Government. Assessing care and support needs of individuals: code of practice.
NI health and social-care assessment — nidirect. Arranging health and social care.

Support for you, too

Carer and neurological charities can offer practical and emotional support. Keep medical questions with the relevant healthcare team.

information-or-support-resource

FND Hope UK peer support groups (external site)

Lists online groups for England, Scotland, Wales, parents and carers

Who it may help: Adults and specified supporter groups
Coverage: UK / online
Source check: V1 - public information checked · 2026-07-14

Limit: Schedules, eligibility and moderation can change; not clinical care

information-or-support-resource

FND Hope UK support services (external site)

Connects users to broader support organisations and official routes

Who it may help: People affected by FND in the UK
Coverage: UK / online
Source check: V1 - public information checked · 2026-07-14

Limit: Each external service has separate criteria, jurisdiction and review date

information-or-support-resource

The Brain Charity (external site)

Offers broader neurological-condition support beyond medical explanations

Who it may help: People affected by neurological conditions including FND and supporters
Coverage: UK with service-specific coverage
Source check: V1 - public information checked · 2026-07-14

Limit: Not an FND diagnostic or specialist treatment pathway

What to do next: Choose a support organisation by the kind of help you need and the area it covers.

Important limit: Peer and charity support does not replace diagnosis, treatment or accountable follow-up.

Sources and review information

Status: Owner released - source checked

Evidence check: Mapped to checked master-register claims

Jurisdiction: UK

Last checked: Check the linked live source

Prepared by: Project editorial team

Owner release date: 2026-07-22

Independent review: Not independently reviewed

Corrections: Use the site correction route without including personal health information.

FND stigma systematic review — Caoimhe McLoughlin, Laura McWhirter, Katerina Pisegna et al. Stigma in functional neurological disorder (FND) - A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2024;112:102460.
Caregiver depression and anxiety in functional seizures — Konstantinos Tsamakis, Diane L Teagarden, Hannah K Villarreal et al. Depression and anxiety in caregivers of patients with functional seizures. Epileptic Disord. 2023;25(2):200-208.
Scotland FND pathway — NHS Scotland Centre for Sustainable Delivery. Functional Neurological Disorder pathway. Current at 14 July 2026.
FND Action Beyond Diagnosis — FND Action. FND - Beyond Diagnosis. Accessed 14 July 2026.
FND Action online support groups — FND Action. Online support groups. Accessed 14 July 2026.
FND Hope UK peer groups — FND Hope UK. UK FND Peer Support Groups. Accessed 14 July 2026.
FND Hope UK support services — FND Hope UK. UK support services. Accessed 14 July 2026.
The Brain Charity FND support — The Brain Charity. Functional Neurological Disorder. Accessed 14 July 2026.
PIF TICK quality criteria — Patient Information Forum. PIF TICK criteria at a glance. Reviewed October 2024.
Open Referral UK standard — Government Digital Service. Record and share information about public services in local authorities: Open Referral UK. Updated 29 January 2026.