Symptom library
Find the right information without turning a symptom list into self-diagnosis.
FND does not look the same for everyone
FND can affect movement, sensation, awareness, seizures, speech and thinking in many different ways. A description or checklist cannot prove that FND is causing a symptom.
What to do next: Search using the words you normally use, then read both the description and its limits.
Important limit: Search helps you find information. It does not diagnose the cause.
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.
- 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
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.
Start with the group that feels closest
We have brought a long list of medical terms into seven everyday groups so you can find a sensible starting point.
What to do next: Choose a group or search using your own description.
Important limit: These groups organise information. They are not seven separate diagnoses.
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.
- This interface or navigation block makes no evidence claim and has no source link.
Why the labels matter
Not every symptom discussed around FND has the same evidence. These labels help show what is well recognised, what may happen alongside FND and where research is still limited.
- Core: a widely recognised type of FND symptom, diagnosed using positive clinical evidence
- Related: a closely linked condition with its own diagnostic criteria
- Associated: often reported alongside FND, but not a sign that diagnoses FND
- Overlap: a different condition that can cause similar symptoms or happen alongside FND
- Limited evidence: reported, but FND-specific research is still thin or uncertain
What to do next: Use the label to understand how much the evidence can support.
Important limit: A label cannot prove what caused an individual symptom.
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.
- PPPD criteria — Staab JP, Eckhardt-Henn A, Horii A, et al. Diagnostic criteria for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: Barany Society consensus. J Vestib Res. 2017;27(4):191-208.
- Pain and FND meta-analysis — Steinruecke M, Mason I, Keen M, et al. Pain and functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JNNP. 2024;95(9):874-885.
- Sleep and FND meta-analysis — Kannan S, et al. Sleep disorders in functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurol Sci. 2025;46(4):1573-1580.
- Dissociation and FND meta-analysis — Campbell MC, et al. Dissociation and its biological and clinical associations in functional neurological disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open. 2023;9(1):e2.
- Migraine and FND overlap — Stone J, Coebergh JA, Khoja L, et al. Migraine and functional neurological disorder: a review of comorbidity and potential overlap. Brain Commun. 2025;7(4):fcaf288.
- Autonomic disorder boundary — Blitshteyn S, et al. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and other common autonomic disorders are not functional neurologic disorders. Front Neurol. 2024;15:1490744.
- Rome IV gut-brain disorders — Drossman DA, Hasler WL. Rome IV - Functional GI Disorders: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction. Gastroenterology. 2016;150(6):1257-1261.
- Internal symptom taxonomy — FND Symptoms Comprehensive Evidence Guide. Internal project research catalogue; 2026.
- Urological symptoms and FND — Hoeritzauer I, et al. Urologic symptoms and functional neurologic disorders. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;139:469-481.
- Scan-negative suspected cauda equina syndrome — Hoeritzauer I, Pronin S, Carson A, et al. Clinical features and outcome of scan-negative and scan-positive suspected cauda equina syndrome: retrospective study of 276 patients. J Neurol. 2018;265:2916-2926.
One example: functional limb weakness
Clinicians diagnose functional limb weakness by finding positive patterns in how movement works in different situations. Hoover’s sign is one possible clue, but it has limits and only makes sense as part of a full examination.
What to do next: Ask which positive pattern was found in your own examination and what it showed.
Important limit: Weakness can have many causes, and functional weakness can coexist with another neurological or medical condition.
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.
- Validated weakness techniques — Dolbow J, El-Azzouni S, Zhang Y, Geiger C. A practical guide to assessing functional motor weakness: a review of validated techniques. J Neurol. 2025;272:427.
- 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.
- Diagnosis and management of FND — Aybek S, Perez DL. Diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorder. BMJ. 2022;376:o64.
- 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.
- 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.
- Epilepsy and functional seizures coexist — Kutlubaev MA, Xu Y, Hackett ML, Stone J. Dual diagnosis of epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: systematic review and meta-analysis. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;89:70-78.
- 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.
- Migraine and FND overlap — Stone J, Coebergh JA, Khoja L, et al. Migraine and functional neurological disorder: a review of comorbidity and potential overlap. Brain Commun. 2025;7(4):fcaf288.
- 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.
Symptoms alongside FND still deserve care
Pain, fatigue, poor sleep and dissociation are common in people with FND, but they do not diagnose FND. Migraine, autonomic disorders, gut–brain conditions and other problems may need their own assessment and treatment.
What to do next: Keep each diagnosed or unresolved problem visible instead of placing everything under one label.
Important limit: This guide cannot decide whether a symptom is part of FND, another condition or still unexplained.
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.
- Pain and FND meta-analysis — Steinruecke M, Mason I, Keen M, et al. Pain and functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JNNP. 2024;95(9):874-885.
- Sleep and FND meta-analysis — Kannan S, et al. Sleep disorders in functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurol Sci. 2025;46(4):1573-1580.
- Dissociation and FND meta-analysis — Campbell MC, et al. Dissociation and its biological and clinical associations in functional neurological disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open. 2023;9(1):e2.
- Migraine and FND overlap — Stone J, Coebergh JA, Khoja L, et al. Migraine and functional neurological disorder: a review of comorbidity and potential overlap. Brain Commun. 2025;7(4):fcaf288.
- Autonomic disorder boundary — Blitshteyn S, et al. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and other common autonomic disorders are not functional neurologic disorders. Front Neurol. 2024;15:1490744.
- Rome IV gut-brain disorders — Drossman DA, Hasler WL. Rome IV - Functional GI Disorders: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction. Gastroenterology. 2016;150(6):1257-1261.
- Internal symptom taxonomy — FND Symptoms Comprehensive Evidence Guide. Internal project research catalogue; 2026.
- Diagnosis and management of FND — Aybek S, Perez DL. Diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorder. BMJ. 2022;376:o64.
- NICE NG127 referral — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral (NG127). Updated 2 October 2023.
- NICE FND quality statement — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Quality statement 5: Functional neurological disorders in adults (QS198). 2021.
- NHS England FND minimum services — NHS England. Annex A: Specialised Neurology Service Specification—Minimum Services for Neurology Subspecialties. August 2025.
- England adult specialised neurology specification — NHS England. Specialised neurology services (adults): service specification. Effective 1 April 2026.
- NHS booking and referral standard — NHS England. NHS Booking and Referral Standard. Accessed 14 July 2026.
- NICE chronic pain guideline — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s. NG193. 2021.
- NICE ME/CFS guideline — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. ME/CFS: diagnosis and management. NG206. 2021.
- NICE long-COVID guideline — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19. NG188. Updated 25 January 2024.
If something changes, get it checked
A previous FND diagnosis should not be used to explain every new or worrying symptom automatically.
What to do next: Explain what is different, when it began and whether it is continuing.
Important limit: The symptom library cannot diagnose or assess an emergency.
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 NG127 referral — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral (NG127). Updated 2 October 2023.
- NICE FND quality statement — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Quality statement 5: Functional neurological disorders in adults (QS198). 2021.
- Diagnosis and management of FND — Aybek S, Perez DL. Diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorder. BMJ. 2022;376:o64.
- 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.
- Pain and FND meta-analysis — Steinruecke M, Mason I, Keen M, et al. Pain and functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JNNP. 2024;95(9):874-885.
- Sleep and FND meta-analysis — Kannan S, et al. Sleep disorders in functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurol Sci. 2025;46(4):1573-1580.
- Dissociation and FND meta-analysis — Campbell MC, et al. Dissociation and its biological and clinical associations in functional neurological disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. BJPsych Open. 2023;9(1):e2.
- FND manifestations and comorbidities survey — Alexandra Ducroizet, Ioanna Zimianti, Dawn Golder et al. Functional neurological disorder: Clinical manifestations and comorbidities; an online survey. J Clin Neurosci. 2023;110:116-125.
Read more when you are ready
Once you have found the closest symptom term, a detailed resource written by FND clinicians can explain it further.
information-or-support-resource
Large plain-language FND library with multiple symptom routes
- Who it may help
- People with FND, supporters and clinicians
- Coverage
- International / online
- Source check
- V1 - public information checked · 2026-07-14
Limit: Information alone is not clinical care; user must identify relevant pages
What to do next: Open the relevant Neurosymptoms page when more detail would help.
Important limit: An outside information page cannot assess a new or uncertain symptom.
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.