Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service

Aims: Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are common but poorly understood causes of disabling symptoms including limb weakness, seizures, fatigue and memory difficulties. Children as young as 5 years old may suffer from the condition and middle adolescence is the most common age of onset. Child...

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Main Authors: Isabella Conti, Paul Harris, Amin Elmubarak, Joyita Sinha, Benjamin Baig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-06-01
Series:BJPsych Open
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425101154/type/journal_article
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author Isabella Conti
Paul Harris
Amin Elmubarak
Joyita Sinha
Benjamin Baig
author_facet Isabella Conti
Paul Harris
Amin Elmubarak
Joyita Sinha
Benjamin Baig
author_sort Isabella Conti
collection DOAJ
description Aims: Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are common but poorly understood causes of disabling symptoms including limb weakness, seizures, fatigue and memory difficulties. Children as young as 5 years old may suffer from the condition and middle adolescence is the most common age of onset. Children with FND are likely to have more difficulties with education and mental health disorders and have experienced more adversity in childhood such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Despite the severity and chronicity of this condition, the literature about FND in children is poor. Children with FND often fall between paediatric and CAMHS services and thus understanding the condition can be better done through cases referred to specialist services. Here we aim to describe the clinical characteristics of referrals made to the sole National and Specialist paediatric liaison service which assesses and treats children with FND.
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institution Matheson Library
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series BJPsych Open
spelling doaj-art-17236325b0a14747b055f63aaaafb51c2025-07-24T13:40:11ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242025-06-0111S29S3010.1192/bjo.2025.10115Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist ServiceIsabella Conti0Paul Harris1Amin Elmubarak2Joyita Sinha3Benjamin Baig41South London and Maudsley NHS, London, United Kingdom1South London and Maudsley NHS, London, United Kingdom1South London and Maudsley NHS, London, United Kingdom1South London and Maudsley NHS, London, United Kingdom1South London and Maudsley NHS, London, United Kingdom 2Kings College, London, United KingdomAims: Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are common but poorly understood causes of disabling symptoms including limb weakness, seizures, fatigue and memory difficulties. Children as young as 5 years old may suffer from the condition and middle adolescence is the most common age of onset. Children with FND are likely to have more difficulties with education and mental health disorders and have experienced more adversity in childhood such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Despite the severity and chronicity of this condition, the literature about FND in children is poor. Children with FND often fall between paediatric and CAMHS services and thus understanding the condition can be better done through cases referred to specialist services. Here we aim to describe the clinical characteristics of referrals made to the sole National and Specialist paediatric liaison service which assesses and treats children with FND.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425101154/type/journal_article
spellingShingle Isabella Conti
Paul Harris
Amin Elmubarak
Joyita Sinha
Benjamin Baig
Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
BJPsych Open
title Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
title_full Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
title_fullStr Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
title_full_unstemmed Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
title_short Functional Neurological Disorders in Children: A Clinical Case Series of 196 Patients in a National Specialist Service
title_sort functional neurological disorders in children a clinical case series of 196 patients in a national specialist service
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425101154/type/journal_article
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