Prompt treatment for functional neurological disorder in children found to be highly effective

A treatment gap exists worldwide for pediatric patients with FND

A seven-component treatment program

• Pediatricians and pediatric neurologists already have the skills necessary to diagnose FND: they simply need to learn to recognize the rule-in signs for FND and to practice communicating an FND diagnosis.
• Physical therapists can shift their approach from a “musculoskeletal framework that focuses attention on the problem area” to a framework in which the patient’s attention is drawn away from the symptoms, with particular focus on building a therapeutic relationship, using play, and applying interventions in ways that address the problem indirectly.
• Mental health clinicians already know how to conduct a biopsychosocial assessment and provide individual and family interventions; they just need to understand “the somatic narrative,” the bottom-up approach to emotion regulation, and strategies for managing focus of attention.

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