Research Priorities

One research priority should be a large, multi-center demographic study of FND patients. Ideally, this would be on the scale of at least 1,000 patients, rather than small studies from one clinic or one country. We need a single large dataset that looks at what percentage of FND patients are neurodivergent, including how many are autistic or have ADHD. We already know neurodivergence is a major part of the FND patient population, but a study this large would help us pin down much more precise statistics and better understand how these comorbidities should shape future research, diagnosis, and treatment.

This study should look at age, sex and gender, background including personal and socioeconomic, neurodivergence, psychiatric history, trauma history, history of head injury or concussion, and major medical comorbidities. It should also ask whether onset came after an illness, infection, surgery, injury, major stressor, or some combination of these.

The goal would not be to reduce FND to one cause. It would be to build a clearer demographic profile of the patient population without the uncertainty that lingers when the sample sizes of the studies are small. Right now, too much discussion of FND seems to rely on partial data, assumptions, or the kinds of patients who happen to make it into specialty clinics.