Hey folks. ILAE's International Epilepsy Congress is now concluded (great meeting!), so I thought I'd share a few highlights from my talk on Functional / Dissociative Seizures (FDS). The full talk (and recording) belong to ILAE, but here are some of the key points!

I know what I’m reading this weekend! 😎

Really looking forward to this www.rsm.ac.uk/events/hypno... interest? @mattburkemd.bsky.social @matthewbroome.bsky.social @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social @susannahpick.bsky.social @wendyburn.bsky.social @inspirethemind.bsky.social @tomplender.bsky.social @fndportal.bsky.social

Latest attempt to try and define predictive brain mechanism in #FND in the simplest terms - A disconnect in the brain where - Beliefs/expectations + prior experiences Outweigh Incoming sensory input from present reality Does that seem accurate? Any thoughts appreciated 🙏

Is hypnosis the ideal therapy for #FND ?great presentation from Dr Abhijit Das - youtu.be/GEKLOwfhvA8?...

Functional seizures don't act like epilepsy. Functional movement disorders don't act like nervous system damage. But is FND feigning or malingering? No! A great paper from @mahyog.bsky.social @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social explains why www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...

#fnd #disabilityrights

“Connections between the nervous and immune systems are increasingly recognized as central to brain–body physiology […] we examine how these systems collaborate to detect and respond to both internal and external stimuli — such as psychological stress, circadian cues, infection, and tissue injury.“

“The findings emphasize the need for personalised and compassionate care for individuals suffering from FND, underpinned by increased service provision within the healthcare system.”

🎉 Congratulations to Prof. @katerinafoto.bsky.social‬, who has won the ALBA-FKNE Diversity Prize for her outstanding contributions to promoting equality and diversity in the brain sciences. ‪@network-alba.bsky.social‬ @kavlifoundation.org‬

For anybody struggling- great video from Dan Buglio on not losing hope with these #FND / chronic pain type conditions www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ccd...

Fascinating talk with @Brain_Tinkerer and Karl Friston on how hypnosis for #FND might fit into a Free energy principle/ computational neuroscience model www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvoN... @fndportal.bsky.social @katerinafoto.bsky.social @edinpublishing.bsky.social

1/A major flaw with Freuds conversion disorder theory- that patients who've been traumatised cannot consciously remember the event and it ends up repressed. In my experience people are more likely to vividly remember traumatic events from the past-

Sadly still seeing many reports from newly-diagnosed folks in FND spaces that their doctor diagnosed them by “ruling things out.” This is bad! FND should be diagnosed based on positive clinical signs. It is not a diagnosis of exclusion. Someone please have a word with the neurologists 🙏

1/In #FND , chronic pain & PTSD it seems like ‘threat detection’ areas of the brain are almost frozen in time. Even though the triggering event i.e injury, accident or psychological trauma are over- these deep unconscious areas of the brain are convinced they are still taking place.

My attempt to summarise the ‘predictive brain model’ that is likely a core mechanism of #FND , in the simplest terms - The brains assessment of probability, made by a combo of ‘beliefs’ + ‘prior experiences’ Does that seem accurate?

Great video on the pain science revolution, highly relevant to #FND . www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpvP...

Delighted to see ‘A Trick of the Mind’ reviewed in @theguardian.com as Book of the Day! 🧠 🍎 Also in the print edition tomorrow 🗞️ www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

🧠 Study exploring new FND treatment! We’re exploring patient views on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for #FND rehab. ✅ 18+ ✅ Diagnosed w/ motor FND (e.g. weakness, tremor) 📝 10-min survey and educational video: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_... 📎 Poster below #FNDresearch #BCI

Exciting news! The first-ever symposium on Functional Neurological Disorder in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Importantly - with participation by people w FND. 🙌 www.fndlanguagematters.nz

Changing language is key to challenging stigma in #FND - ‘conversion disorder’ ‘irrational illness beliefs’ ‘catastrophiser’ ‘somatiser’ - all punitive, judgemental & unhelpful terms www.fndlanguagematters.nz

Time to get the facts straight. 🙌 Thanks @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social, Caoimhe McLaughlin and Anna Ross, and the ETUDE team for bringing this to life.

This is very cool! “This study employed three complementary graph theory analyses to delineate the functional network architecture in FND…results support the notion that FND involves aberrant within- and between-network communication”. Potentially informing treatment + future replication studies

The ultimate medical gaslighting sketch from The League of Gentleman - as an #FND patient this feels horribly familiar!

#FND neuro rehab fundraiser to hopefully help me be more mobile, more independent and less pain!

The orange blob has gone green!

Please donate if you can to help FND patient Pudsey Eileen Bear with the costs of a much needed mobility scooter, details below - www.gofundme.com/f/please-hel...

Great video from Neuro Physio Glenn Nielsen on #FND- youtu.be/pJbAYouMdt8?...

Wise words from @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social - the current messy, multi factorial, multi perspective account of #FND is frustrating for those who like a simple model which fits in boxes!

This is a really excellent article on the intersecting histories of FND and psychoanalysis - and the damage still ongoing. FND defies simple explanations and reductionism Thank you @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social for writing (and the kind mention) and @fndireland.bsky.social for sharing!

I was asked by the Neuropsychoanalysis society to write an article about FND in response to one by Mark Solms discussing how predictive processing could map on to psychoanalytic ideas. doi.org/10.1080/1529... 1/

I don't normally take public sides on FND community debates. But I feel that FND Action is in the right. Scamvougeras + Castle's article is dicey with the facts, philosophically uneven, and most importantly advocates for clinical practices (like dx of exclusion) that we know are harmful.

And in my view, the 20th century view of FND - as a purely "psychological" condition, in which symptoms were interpreted as unconscious relief from emotional distress, and diagnosed by exclusion - was a medical and human rights disaster, full stop. We cannot seriously consider going back to that.

It’s important to challenge the claims Scamvougeras and co have published here about #FND. Promoting outdated ideology over science does immense harm to patients. www.fndaction.org.uk/fnd-action-r...

April is Functional Neurological Disorder Awareness Month. I can't sleep, so I made these infographics to channel my frustration. On my way home today, the sunlight triggered my symptoms and started facial tics that caused me to not be able to open my eyes for 30 minutes. 🥴 #FNDaware #LetsTalkFND

We really need to stop calling FND seizures “psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.” If neurologists had to go around all day calling epilepsy “neurogenic nonfunctional seizures” I think we could get this done pretty quick

📣Fantastic FND Society course on diagnostics, aetiology & Mx of functional seizures+ epilepsy 13-14 June online (or in person Boston USA!) 👌👌 @fndsociety.bsky.social @jonstoneneuro.bsky.social @alancarson15.bsky.social @mahyog.bsky.social @davidlewisperez.bsky.social @fndportal.bsky.social

Nice introduction to FND from The Conversation. Love to see it!

This is so good! I’m blown away by the depth and insight Biba brings to this conversation - much respect

Functional Neurological Disorder is more common than you may think! #FND #FNDAware #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder

I'm Missy and I'm currently looking researching into hygge and FND so I can write more impactful articles in those areas especially as people are using old stereotypes on FND.

You could take this response from FND action from 2023 and do a version for every one of the conditions she assesses in her new book - none of which she apparently knows much about at all - and is not qualified to diagnose or undiagnose. www.fndaction.org.uk/fnd-action-r...

Please support FND Dimensions by sharing/attending this event celebrating the resilience of people with Functional Neurological Disorder: Stage and Screen - A Musical Concert, Friday 28th March 2025 - University Hall, NTU City Campus, Nottingham #FND 🧠🎵💪

FMD Society has some neat education sessions coming up from extremely talented folks 👀 check it out! open.spotify.com/episode/6z53...

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is the second most common neurological condition. This #FND Awareness Day, @nielsdetert.bsky.social explains what FND is and how treatment can vary. 👉 www.bps.org.uk/news/psychology-has-vital-role-play-treating-functional-neurological-disorder-says-bps

People accept a heart condition or a hearing condition—but a #nervoussystem condition? Suddenly, it’s up for debate. Just because it doesn’t show on a scan doesn’t mean it’s not real. The nervous system can malfunction, just like any other part of the body. #FND

Today is FND Awareness Day (UK)! FND is a common, painful, and disabling disorder. It remains under-studied and stigmatized, but we’re making progress. Here’s my in-depth personal essay on how we got here. medium.com/@fndportal/c...