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Functional Neurological Disorder in Children and Adolescents

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Symptom-Based Approach to Pediatric Neurology

Abstract

Functional neurological (conversion) disorders (FNDs) in children are neuropsychiatric disorders involving complex interactions between the brain, mind, body, and context—the lived experience of the child and the family. The last two decades have seen important advances in our understanding, diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of FNDs in children. Of note, in this context, is the emergence of new research technologies, a resurgence of research interest in FNDs, a growing understanding of the biological embedding of stress and of the role of psychological processes in sensory and motor functions, new therapeutic approaches, and efforts to address and overcome past stigma. In this chapter, we highlight the key areas of knowledge, discuss the recent advances in the field, and set out current best practices. Throughout this chapter, we use the pronoun “she” because in the civilian pediatric setting, more girls than boys present with FNDs. During wartime or in the context of military action, the situation is reversed (Shephard B, A war of nerves: soldiers and psychiatrists in the twentieth century. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 2001).

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Kozlowska, K., Mohammad, S. (2022). Functional Neurological Disorder in Children and Adolescents. In: Kamat, D.M., Sivaswamy, L. (eds) Symptom-Based Approach to Pediatric Neurology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10494-7_37

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