FND guide
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Independent information guide — not a medical service.

Start with what is hardest today

You might be looking for help with movement, seizures, communication, memory, daily activities, another health condition, access to care or simply living with symptoms while support is arranged.

There is no single FND treatment

Treatment is usually matched to the diagnosed presentation, functional goals, coexisting conditions, preferences, risks and services available. A clear explanation matters, but information alone is not adequate treatment for most people who need rehabilitation or therapy.

What to do next: Ask what problem the proposed treatment targets, what outcome matters and when progress will be reviewed.

Important limit: A general information page cannot determine which treatment is appropriate for an individual.

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.

  • Practical management review — Dworetzky BA, Baslet G. Functional neurological disorder: practical management. Neurotherapeutics. 2025;22:e00612.
  • FND treatment umbrella review — Mavroudis I, Petrides F, Franekova K, et al. Treatment of functional neurological disorder: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. J Neurol. 2025;272:710.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Explanation as treatment — Stone J, Carson A, Hallett M. Explanation as treatment for functional neurologic disorders. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;139:543-553.
  • FND treatment research agenda — LaFaver K, LaFrance WC, Price ME, Rosen PB, Rapaport M. Treatment of functional neurological disorder: current state, future directions, and a research agenda. CNS Spectr. 2021;26(6):607-613.
  • AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
  • FND outcome measurement review — Pick S, Anderson DG, Asadi-Pooya AA, et al. Outcome measurement in functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and recommendations. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020;91:638-649.
  • 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.

Start with the question you have now

Choose what you need to understand

Choose the section closest to today’s problem. There is no treatment quiz or ranking.

Important limit: This page explains options and useful questions. It cannot choose a treatment, clinician or service for you.

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.

Different professionals help with different problems

The useful discipline depends on the presentation and goal. Some people need one profession; others need coordinated or sequential care.

  • FND-informed physiotherapy may focus on movement, attention, automatic movement and graded functional goals.
  • Occupational therapy may focus on daily activities, routines, roles, fatigue, cognition, work, education and participation.
  • Speech and language therapy may assess functional communication, voice, swallowing, cough or upper-airway symptoms.
  • Psychological treatment should name its purpose: FND symptoms, functional seizures, cognition, adjustment, coping or a separate mental-health condition.

What to do next: Ask why a particular discipline is being suggested and which goal it will work on.

Important limit: A profession label does not establish that a particular intervention, format or clinician is suitable.

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.

  • Physiotherapy consensus — Nielsen G, Stone J, Matthews A, et al. Physiotherapy for functional motor disorders: a consensus recommendation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015;86:1113-1119.
  • Occupational therapy consensus — Nicholson C, Edwards MJ, Carson AJ, et al. Occupational therapy consensus recommendations for functional neurological disorder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020;91:1037-1045.
  • SLT consensus — Baker J, Barnett C, Cavalli L, et al. Management of functional communication, swallowing, cough and related disorders: consensus recommendations for speech and language therapy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021;92(10):1112-1125.
  • AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
  • BPS FND psychology guidance — British Psychological Society. Functional Neurological Disorder: Neuropsychological and psychological management in children and adults. Division of Neuropsychology Policy Unit FND Working Group. 2024.
  • Scotland FND pathway — NHS Scotland Centre for Sustainable Delivery. Functional Neurological Disorder pathway. Current at 14 July 2026.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • NHS England FND minimum services — NHS England. Annex A: Specialised Neurology Service Specification—Minimum Services for Neurology Subspecialties. August 2025.
  • 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.

What research can—and cannot—tell you

Research results differ depending on the type of FND, the treatment, what it was compared with, what was measured and how long people were followed. One study cannot predict what will happen for an individual.

  • A treatment may help some outcomes without changing every symptom or the study's primary outcome.
  • Evidence described as possible, observational, feasibility or experimental carries different uncertainty from established routine practice.
  • Access to intensive, multidisciplinary or remote treatment does not by itself show that it is necessary or more effective for everyone.

What to do next: Look for the population, outcome, comparison, follow-up period and important limitations behind a treatment claim.

Important limit: The site will not promise recovery, rank treatments or turn study averages into an individual forecast.

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.

  • Physio4FMD phase 3 RCT — Nielsen G, Buszewicz M, Stevenson F, et al. Specialist physiotherapy for functional motor disorder in England and Scotland (Physio4FMD): a pragmatic, multicentre, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23:675-686.
  • 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.
  • AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
  • CODES RCT — Goldstein LH, Robinson EJ, Mellers JDC, et al. Cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with dissociative seizures (CODES): a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7:491-505.
  • CBT for functional seizures meta-analysis — Moro P, Lattanzi S, Beier CP, Di Bonaventura C, Cerulli Irelli E. Cognitive behavioral therapy in adults with functional seizures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Epilepsy Behav. 2024;159:109981.
  • 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.
  • FND treatment umbrella review — Mavroudis I, Petrides F, Franekova K, et al. Treatment of functional neurological disorder: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. J Neurol. 2025;272:710.
  • FND telerehabilitation scoping review — Jiang S, Margalik DA, Lazaris PE, et al. Telerehabilitation for functional neurological disorders: a scoping review. J Psychosom Res. 2025;195:112184.
  • Neuromodulation review — Oriuwa C, Mollica A, Feinstein A, et al. Neuromodulation for the treatment of functional neurological disorder and somatic symptom disorder: a systematic review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022;93:280-290.
  • Hypnosis and suggestion review — Connors MH, Quinto L, Deeley Q, Halligan PW, Oakley DA, Kanaan RA. Hypnosis and suggestion as interventions for functional neurological disorder: a systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2024;86:92-102.
  • FCD digital self-help feasibility — Cabreira V, Frostholm L, Stone J, Carson A. Feasibility trial of a self-help digital intervention for functional cognitive disorder. Brain Commun. 2025;7:fcaf248.
  • ACT for FCD feasibility RCT — Poole N, Cope S, Vanzan S, et al. Randomised controlled feasibility trial of online group acceptance and commitment therapy for functional cognitive disorder. BJPsych Open. 2025;11(3):e91.
  • Functional cognitive disorder review — Pennington C, Newson M, Hayre A, Coulthard E. Functional cognitive disorder: what is it and what to do about it? Pract Neurol. 2015;15(6):436-444.
  • FCD international consensus — Cabreira V, Alty J, Antic S, et al. Perspectives on the diagnosis and management of functional cognitive disorder: an international Delphi study. Eur J Neurol. 2025;32(1):e16318.

While you are waiting

A little preparation can make the next contact more useful, but it should not be presented as a replacement for treatment.

  • Keep referral letters, dates, contact routes and the name of the current clinical owner together.
  • Prepare the goals and questions that matter most, plus an accurate medicines and coexisting-conditions list.
  • Use one trusted resource that matches the diagnosed presentation rather than attempting every online strategy.
  • Follow only movement, communication or medicine guidance already agreed for you, and raise new or materially changed symptoms for assessment.
  • Keep symptom or function notes brief, useful and optional; reduce or stop tracking if it increases distress or symptom focus.

What to do next: Prepare one short page for the next appointment or referral contact.

Important limit: While-waiting preparation is not a substitute for assessment, rehabilitation, therapy or urgent care when that is needed.

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.
  • 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.
  • NHS Inform FND — NHS Inform Scotland. Functional neurological disorder (FND). Updated 12 March 2026.
  • HIOW FND workbook — Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Functional Neurological Disorder workbook. Accessed 14 July 2026.
  • Physiotherapy consensus — Nielsen G, Stone J, Matthews A, et al. Physiotherapy for functional motor disorders: a consensus recommendation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015;86:1113-1119.
  • Physio4FMD phase 3 RCT — Nielsen G, Buszewicz M, Stevenson F, et al. Specialist physiotherapy for functional motor disorder in England and Scotland (Physio4FMD): a pragmatic, multicentre, phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23:675-686.
  • SLT consensus — Baker J, Barnett C, Cavalli L, et al. Management of functional communication, swallowing, cough and related disorders: consensus recommendations for speech and language therapy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021;92(10):1112-1125.
  • UCLH FND videos — University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Functional Neurological Disorder self-help videos. Accessed 14 July 2026.
  • AAN clinician summary — American Academy of Neurology. Management of Functional Seizures: Clinician Summary. Practice guideline; December 2025.
  • Practical management review — Dworetzky BA, Baslet G. Functional neurological disorder: practical management. Neurotherapeutics. 2025;22:e00612.
  • NHS GGC FDS self-management — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Dissociative Seizures: Self Management and the Wellness Toolbox. Version 2; reviewed 30 May 2025.
  • BPS FND psychology guidance — British Psychological Society. Functional Neurological Disorder: Neuropsychological and psychological management in children and adults. Division of Neuropsychology Policy Unit FND Working Group. 2024.
  • UK community OT barriers — Nicholson C, Francis J, Nielsen G, Lorencatto F. Barriers and enablers to providing community-based occupational therapy to people with functional neurological disorder: an interview study with occupational therapists in the United Kingdom. Br J Occup Ther. 2022;85:262-273.
  • Journey to diagnosis and care — Pritomanova S, et al. The journey to diagnosis and care of functional neurological disorder. PLoS One. 2026;21:e0328321.

Keep track of the referral

Local services, eligibility and waiting times vary. It helps to record who sent the referral, where it went, what it is for, the date, its current status and who is responsible for your care while you wait.

Local working draft: what you type stays only in this open page. The site does not save or send it, and reloading clears it.

Preparation, not treatment: this sheet helps organise the next contact. It does not replace assessment, rehabilitation, therapy or urgent care when that is needed.

For the next contact
Keep the referral visible

Use your browser’s print command to print this working sheet or save it as a PDF.

  • If a referral is declined, ask which criterion was not met or which information was missing.
  • Ask who owns care now, what alternative route exists and whether re-referral or escalation is possible.
  • Treat an app or portal status as useful information, not proof that a service has accepted the referral.

What to do next: Write down the next named action, who owns it and when it should be checked.

Important limit: A national pathway or online status does not prove local availability, acceptance, capacity or waiting time.

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.

Finding help is different from choosing treatment

Find help can show information resources, services, peer support and practical help. A listing explains access and what is still unknown; it is not a recommendation.

Open Find help

What to do next: Open Find help when the task is locating a service or resource rather than understanding treatment choices.

Important limit: A directory listing does not establish suitability, quality, effectiveness, current capacity or likely outcome.

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.

  • UHB FND pathway and service gap — University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Functional neurological disorder pathway. Last reviewed 4 December 2024.
  • NHS Borders FND referral pathway — NHS Borders / Right Decisions. Functional neurological disorder referral help toolkit. Last reviewed 16 January 2025.
  • FND commissioning written answer — UK Parliament / Department of Health and Social Care. Written answer to UIN 109219. 12 March 2026.
  • 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.
  • NICE FND quality statement — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Quality statement 5: Functional neurological disorders in adults (QS198). 2021.
  • 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.
  • NHS Directory of Services profiling principles — NHS England. Directory of Services profiling principles. Updated 29 October 2025.