A Communication-Centered Approach to Managing Functional Neurological Disorders in the Emergency Room

Ana Raquel Estalagem; Inês Pereira Gonçalves; Miguel Miranda

doi:10.20344/amp.24034

A Communication-Centered Approach to Managing Functional Neurological Disorders in the Emergency Room

Authors

Ana Raquel Estalagem Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve. Portimão. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6295-7348
Inês Pereira Gonçalves Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve. Portimão. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7484-1830
Miguel Miranda Department of Neurology. Hospital de Cascais Dr. José Almeida. Alcabideche. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5285-1665

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.24034

Keywords:

Conversion Disorder/diagnosis, Conversion Disorder/therapy, Emergency Service, Hospital, Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis, Nervous System Diseases/therapy

Abstract

n/a.

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Author Biography

Ana Raquel Estalagem, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve. Portimão.

Tese: 'Educação Sexual na Adolescência em Portugal' Julho 2018

References

Galenchik‑Chan A, Ren T, Cohen D, Maurer CW. Recognising and managing functional neurological disorder in the acute healthcare setting. Emerg Med J. 2025;42:758‑63.

Finkelstein SA, Cortel‑LeBlanc A, Stone J. Functional neurological disorder in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med. 2021;28:685‑96.

Stone J, Burton C, Carson A. Recognising and explaining functional neurological disorder. BMJ. 2020;371:m3745.

International League Against Epilepsy. Functional/dissociative seizures. [cited 2025 Dec 13]. Available from: https://www.ilae.org/patient-care/functional/dissociative-seizures.

Gelauff JM, Rosmalen JG, Carson A, Dijk JM, Ekkel M, Nielsen G, et al. Internet-based self-help randomized trial for motor functional neurologic disorder (SHIFT). Neurology. 2020;95:e1883‑96.

Staab JP, Eckhardt-Henn A, Horii A, Jacob R, Strupp M, Brandt T, et al. Diagnostic criteria for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD): consensus document of the committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society. J Vestib Res. 2017;27:191-208.

Nielsen G, Stone J, Edwards MJ. Physiotherapy for functional motor disorders: a consensus recommendation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015;86:1113‑9.

Baker J, Barnett C, Cavalli L, Dietrich M, Dixon L, Duffy JR, et al. Speech and language therapy for functional communication, swallowing, cough and related disorders: consensus recommendations. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021;92:1112‑25.

Stephen CD, Fung V, Lungu CI, Espay AJ. Assessment of emergency department and inpatient use and costs in adult and pediatric functional neurological disorders. JAMA Neurol. 2021;78:88‑101.

Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurologia. Doenças neurológicas funcionais. 2019. [cited 2025 Dec 13]. Available from: https://www.spneurologia.com/files/pdf/6_doencas-neurologicas-funcionais_1559301394.pdf.

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Published

2026-03-27

How to Cite

Estalagem AR, Pereira Gonçalves I, Miranda M. A Communication-Centered Approach to Managing Functional Neurological Disorders in the Emergency Room. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 27 [cited 2026 Mar. 29];. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/24034

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