A Historical Perspective on Functional Neurological Disorder

Abstract

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is the latest name for the ancient malady at the brain–mind intersection previously known as ‘hysteria’. Though never an official term, ‘FND’ has come to dominate the field, and perhaps best captures the very substantial recent changes in the conceptualisation of the disorder. Early leaders in both neurology and psychiatry were fascinated by hysteria, but for much of the 20th century it was neglected by both disciplines and became highly stigmatised, with a psychiatric foundation that was poorly supported and widespread suspicions of feigning. In DSM-5, the need for a psychological formulation and all mention of feigning were removed from the diagnostic..