Can Neurofeedback help Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)?

The experts on FND agree that FND is a dysregulation of the nervous system.  Neurofeedback is a tool to remediate nervous system regulation. If the nervous system is better regulated, FND symptoms can be expected to improve.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is described by the NHS  as “the name given for symptoms in the body which appear to be caused by problems in the nervous system but which are not caused by a physical neurological disease or disorder. Health professionals sometimes call these disorders ‘medically unexplained’, psychosomatic or somatisation. We prefer the term ‘functional’ which just means that the body is not functioning quite as it should.”

Professor Mark Edwards says on the FND Hope website, “the problem in FND lies in the brain’s ability to access or control the apparently normal movement and sensation wiring. It is difficult to understand exactly how this can happen, although modern neuroscience does provide some clues. However, it does point to the theoretical possibility of improvement in symptoms, as at least on one level the nervous system is working normally and is not irreversibly damaged.

On the FNDAction website it says “Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a brain disorder that can encompass a diverse range of neurological symptoms including limb weakness, paralysis, seizures, walking difficulties, spasms, twitching, sensory issues and more. Anyone of any age can receive the diagnosis. For many symptoms are severe and disabling, and life changing for all.

Whilst the symptoms may appear similar to those seen in neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Epilepsy, and can be just as debilitating, they have a different underlining cause.

The basic wiring of the nervous system is intact, but there is a problem with how the brain/nervous system is “functioning”, and how the brain fails to send and/or receive signals (messages) correctly. This impacts on how the body responds to different tasks such as movement control and attention.”

Professor Jon Stone, Consultant Neurologist Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and University of Edinburgh, says on his Neurosyptoms.Org FND Guide website:

“FND describes neurological symptoms like limb weakness, tremor, numbness or blackouts, related to the movement and sensation parts of the nervous system…..

• • Caused by a PROBLEM with the FUNCTIONING of the nervous system
  • A “software” issue of the brain, not the hardware (as in stroke or MS)
  • With positive diagnostic features typical of FND
  • Cause day to day difficulties for the person who experiences them”

Can Neurofeedback help FND?

It is very possible that Neurofeedback can help FND. We cannot claim vast experience, but for example we have experience of a client who had developed seizures after a vaccine shot. They had a diagnosis of FND, and the seizures stopped after their first session of Neurofeedback. We cannot promise that all FND patients will experience the same response, but it is a testament to the power of Neurofeedback.