Delivering the Diagnosis: A Practical Approach to a Patient With a Functional Neurological Disorder, 2022, Pierce and Albert

Functional Neurological Disorders are a common and debilitating group of diseases that have been the subject of stigma and confusion across medical history. It is well-documented that prognosis and even possible resolution of symptoms are linked to successful delivery of the diagnosis by the clinician, and correct understanding of diagnosis by the patient. In the following article, we delineate the nature of these disorders and provide an overview to assist providers successfully navigate the communication of these diagnoses to patients and families.

Paywall, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1071909121000760

 

Andy, you do well to bring these articles to our attention, I just can't bring myself to press like.

What sort of prognosis can there be apart from possible resolution of symptoms?

There is a flood of papers about FND and the most consistent thing about them is the use of words like possible, may, could might and other conditional descriptions. Mechanisms are postulated or theorised yet they have the check to study how to give a correct understanding of the diagnosis to the patient.

If they do not understand it enough to know what is proven and definite maybe the patients are right to be dubious.