• Sara A Finkelstein, Miguel A Cortel-LeBlanc, Achelle Cortel-LeBlanc, and Jon Stone.
• Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
• Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Jun 1; 28 (6): 685-696.

AbstractWe provide a narrative review of functional neurological disorder (FND, or conversion disorder) for the emergency department (ED). Diagnosis of FND has shifted from a "rule-out" disorder to one now based on the recognition of positive clinical signs, allowing the ED physician to make a suspected or likely diagnosis of FND. PubMed, Google Scholar, academic books, and a hand search through review article references were used to conduct a literature review. We review clinical features and diagnostic pitfalls for the most common functional neurologic presentations to the ED, including functional limb weakness, functional (nonepileptic) seizures, and functional movement disorders. We provide practical advice for discussing FND as a possible diagnosis and suggestions for initial steps in workup and management plans.© 2021 The Authors. Academic Emergency Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

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