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2026 Volume 6, Number 3 Looking Back at Baltimore: Highlights from the 6th International Conference on Functional Neurological Disorder
The 6th International Conference on Functional Neurological Disorder brought our community together in Baltimore, Maryland, from June 13–16 for four days of learning and optimism about the future of the field! The meeting began with FIRST Day (Foundational and Interdisciplinary Review and Skills Training), a preconference program designed to provide practical education across disciplines and levels of experience. Throughout the afternoon, attendees participated in workshops covering diagnosis, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, pediatric FND, and other core topics. Whether participants were attending their first FNDS meeting or returning as experienced clinicians and researchers, FIRST Day created an opportunity to build shared knowledge and practical skills before the main conference began. Over the next three days, attendees from around the world gathered to share new research, exchange clinical experience, and strengthen collaborations across our many disciplines. Scientific sessions highlighted advances in the diagnosis and treatment of FND, while panel discussions and workshops encouraged thoughtful conversation about the challenges that remain and the opportunities ahead. One of the greatest strengths of the FNDS meeting continues to be its interdisciplinary spirit. Throughout the conference, clinicians, scientists, therapists, trainees, and people with lived experience came together with a common goal: improving the lives of individuals living with FND. That spirit was reflected not only during the scientific sessions, but also in the conversations that continued between presentations, over meals, and throughout the meeting. This year's conference also celebrated the people who have helped shape the field. We recognized the inaugural recipients of the Mark Hallett Award (please see these awardees in this edition’s Meet the Founders double feature), honoring individuals whose careers have made lasting contributions to Functional Neurological Disorder research, education, and clinical care. Their recognition served as a reminder of how far the field has come and the many individuals whose leadership has helped build today's FNDS community. The meeting also showcased the remarkable growth of the Society itself. From trainees attending their first international conference to long-standing collaborators reconnecting with colleagues from around the world, this reflected a field that continues to expand in both size and impact. New collaborations were formed and countless conversations sparked ideas that will continue well beyond the conference. To everyone who presented, volunteered, organized sessions, served on committees, and traveled from near and far, thank you for making this meeting such a success. We hope you enjoy the photo highlights below, and we look forward to seeing you at future FNDS meetings! FNDS CONFERENCE PODCAST RECAP
While there were so many wonderful photos taken throughout the conference that we couldn't include them all in our newsletter, we wanted to share a few that capture the learning, fun, and warm spirit of this remarkable community of colleagues and friends. We hope you enjoy them! Image Gallery
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"As a first-time attendee, the FND conference was one of the most affirming experiences of my training. I came in as a doctoral trainee presenting early pediatric FND work and left welcomed into a community that treats scientific rigor and compassionate care as inseparable. The conversations I had across disciplines, career stages, and continents reshaped how I think about the future of FND research and my place in it."
"The Baltimore FNDS conference was a joyful celebration of the science and the clinical skill that FNDS members are creating. Conversations ranged from research ideas, tips, thoughts about mechanisms, pathway optimization to treatment trials and neglected populations. Attendees spoke in multidisciplinary groups and gathered knowledge across specialties and the patient/clinician interface. We all left rejuvenated, proud of the work we are doing, and excited for the work still to come!"
"This year’s FNDS Congress was truly inspiring and unlike any neurology meeting I had attended before. It was especially meaningful because it was the first World Congress in which the newly established FNDS Latin American Section, founded in January, participated as a group. Reconnecting with colleagues I had previously met in Verona, meeting so many new experts, and gathering in person to develop a shared action plan for Latin America created an extraordinary sense of enthusiasm, openness, and genuine collaboration. What made the congress absolutely remarkable was its holistic and deeply human vision of neurology. The program extended far beyond traditional neurological boundaries, bringing together autonomic disorders, pain, hypermobility, women’s health, disorders of gut–brain interaction, neurodiversity, autoimmunity, sleep, dreams, dissociation, consciousness and out-of-body experiences, as well as philosophical, anthropological, cultural, and societal perspectives. It was incredible to see all these subjects embraced within a neurology congress and to feel that FND is helping lead medicine toward a more integrated understanding of the brain, body, mind, personal experience, and social context. For the Latin American Section, it was also invaluable to exchange ideas with internationally renowned Latin American FND experts such as Alberto Espay, Gastón Baslet, Renzo Figari, and Raquel López. Although they currently work in the United States, as native Spanish speakers they have generously expressed their willingness to support education and mentor research projects across Latin America, bringing their knowledge and experience to help us build a truly active regional network and address the significant gaps that still exist in our healthcare systems. I returned from the congress feeling deeply inspired, supported, and convinced that meaningful change is possible when people come together with such generosity, curiosity, and openness to collaboration.”
"From the moment I arrived, I felt warmly welcomed by everyone at the FNDS meeting, and the atmosphere was supportive throughout. The presentations were engaging and thoughtfully put together. I returned home having learned so much and having met wonderful new people. I'm already looking forward to Prague in two years!"
"As a first-time attendee at the FNDS conference in Baltimore, I was genuinely blown away with the warmth, comradery and enthusiasm shown by the whole community across the 4 days. With such a diverse range of clinicians, experience levels, and environments/services that people work in, I found everyone to be approachable and more than happy to share their experiences and to connect. I think a large multidisciplinary and multinational community like this can only exist because each and every person shares a common interest in advancing research and treatments for people living with FND, and I know I have brought back a wealth of knowledge to my local service in Queensland, Australia. One of the highlights was the sheer volume of posters and abstracts being presented that were truly eclectic in nature. The local conference organisers in Baltimore, the FNDS Board and leaders of the society all have done a wonderful job in making this group such an inviting and inspiring space. I know I can speak for myself and others when I say I am already looking forward to attending the 7th international conference in Prague in 2028!"
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Call for Manuscripts: FND After Head Trauma The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation is inviting submissions for a special section on Functional Neurological Disorder after head trauma, guest edited by Noah Silverberg, PhD, ABPP-CN, and Matthew Burke, MD, FRCPC. The special issue will highlight original research and systematic reviews that advance our understanding of FND in the context of head trauma. Synopsis submissions are due November 1, 2026. |
Building a Global Network: Launching the FNDS Cultural Ambassador Initiative
One of the exciting milestones at this year's conference was the official launch of the FNDS Cultural Ambassador Initiative. Developed by the Communications Committee, this new program is designed to strengthen connections between the Society and the diverse communities we serve around the world. Cultural Ambassadors will serve as regional liaisons, helping to share FNDS initiatives, provide feedback on communications and programming, and ensure our work reflects the perspectives and needs of members across different cultures and healthcare systems.
We were thrilled by the enthusiastic response to our inaugural call for nominations and were honored to welcome our first cohort of ambassadors during a luncheon at the Baltimore meeting. The gathering provided an opportunity for ambassadors to meet one another, share ideas, and begin shaping how this network can support communication, collaboration, and community across the Society.
Several meeting attendees were able to join our Multicultural Luncheon hosted by the Communications Committee at the Baltimore Conference
Our inaugural Cultural Ambassadors represent regions spanning North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, South Asia, East and Southeast Asia, and Australia and the Pacific:
- Jocelyn Bystrom (North America)
- Soaham Desai (South Asia)
- Tanja Goltnik (Southern, Central & Eastern Europe)
- Niraj Kumar (South Asia)
- Juliana Lockman (North America)
- Laura Lenhart (North America)
- Melissa Luque (Latin America & Caribbean)
- Xin Lyu (East & Southeast Asia)
- Nicolas Robertino Lombardi (Latin America & Caribbean; Southern, Central & Eastern Europe)
- Carmen M. Ortiz-Mendoza (Latin America & Caribbean)
- Casey Orozco-Poore (North America; Latin America & Caribbean)
- Chrisma Pretorius (Africa)
- Sonja Rutten (Western & Northern Europe)
- Saeid Saadi (Southern, Central & Eastern Europe)
- Lucia Tesolin (Latin America & Caribbean)
- Nancy Thornton (North America)
- Jitendra Upadhyay (South Asia)
- Leigh Van den Heuvel (Africa)
- Yadira Velazquez (North America; Latin America & Caribbean; Southern, Central & Eastern Europe; Africa; Australia & Pacific)
- Laure von der Weid (Western & Northern Europe)
- Camila Wolfzun (Latin America & Caribbean)
This initiative reflects FNDS's ongoing commitment to fostering a truly global community where members can learn from one another, amplify regional perspectives, and help ensure that our educational resources and communications are relevant across cultures. We are excited to work alongside this outstanding inaugural group as the program continues to grow.
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Join the Process:  Sonja Rutten, MD, PhD, presenting the proposed FND diagnostic criteria at the FNDS Conference in Baltimore, Maryland One of several mission-driven proposals highlighted during the FNDS Conference was the ongoing work of the Classification Oversight Committee (FNDS COSC) to develop standardized diagnostic criteria and a shared language. During the meeting, Dr. Sonja Rutten, a member of the FNDS COSC and Chair of the Overarching Definition and Diagnostic Criteria (ODCC) Workgroup, presented the committee's draft diagnostic criteria for FND and the functional/dissociative seizure subtype. Her presentation marked an important milestone in a collaborative international effort that has brought together experts across multiple disciplines and organizations. The committee's work extends beyond developing diagnostic criteria. Its goal is to establish an overarching definition of FND, build consensus around preferred nomenclature for FND and its major subtypes, and create updated diagnostic criteria that can support clinical care, research, education, and communication across the field. The process has been intentionally designed to be transparent and collaborative, with opportunities for clinicians, researchers, partner organizations, people with lived experience, and the broader community to provide feedback throughout its development. As part of this process, Society members are invited to review the draft criteria and provide constructive comments. Please provide concise, specific feedback that can help guide revisions. The committee will not post replies to your input but will consider each comment carefully during draft revision. Work is already underway to develop diagnostic criteria for the functional movement disorder subtype, with additional subtype definitions planned in the future. Developing a common language is an important step toward improving consistency in diagnosis, facilitating research collaborations, and strengthening communication across specialties and healthcare systems. The Classification Oversight Committee encourages all interested members to participate in this important initiative. To learn more about the committee's work, review the draft diagnostic criteria, and submit feedback, please visit the FNDS Classification Oversight Committee webpage. |
Multidisciplinary FND Training Workshop Rescheduled for September 30 in Seville, Spain
Earlier this year, severe flooding across southern Spain led to the postponement of the II Training Workshop on the Multidisciplinary Approach to Functional Movement Disorders. We are grateful that the organizers and faculty have rescheduled this incredible opportunity, and we continue to hold in our thoughts all those who were affected by the flooding.
The workshop has been rescheduled for September 30, 2026, and will take place at Hospital Universitario Virgen Rocío in Seville. Organized by the Movement Disorders Unit and the Mental Health Department in collaboration with the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), this continuing education initiative highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care for people living with FND.
The workshop is coordinated by Marta Méndez del Barrio (Physiotherapist), Manuel Canal Rivero (Psychologist), Miguel Ruiz Veguilla (Psychiatrist), Pablo Mir Rivera (Neurologist), and Daniel Macías García (Neurologist). Designed for both practicing clinicians and trainees, the program brings together professionals from neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and mental health nursing to foster collaboration across disciplines.
Participants will explore the evolving understanding of functional neurological disorders, including functional movement disorders, functional seizures, and functional cognitive disorders. Educational sessions will address diagnosis, communication of the diagnosis, psychiatric comorbidities, and evidence-informed physical and psychological treatment approaches. The program also features interactive case discussions that encourage practical, team-based learning.
A dedicated afternoon session will highlight the perspectives of patients and caregivers, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, therapeutic engagement, and the role of families in supporting recovery.
The FND Society is pleased to support this important initiative and wishes the organizers and participants a successful workshop. Please click below to access the full workshop program.
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Placebo, Hypnosis, and Functional Disorders Conference to Convene in Nancy, France The FND Society is pleased to highlight the upcoming Placebo, Hypnosis, and Functional Disorders Conference 2026, taking place October 14–16, 2026, in Nancy, France. The meeting will bring together clinicians, researchers, and scholars working at the intersection of placebo and nocebo science, hypnosis, and functional disorders. With the theme “Bridging basic research and clinical innovation,” the conference offers an important opportunity to examine how expectations, attention, therapeutic context, and cultural meaning shape symptoms and treatment outcomes. These themes are highly relevant to FND and related conditions, where advances in neuroscience and interdisciplinary care continue to inform one another. The program includes several presentations of particular interest to the FNDS community, including talks on virtual reality, embodied prediction, functional seizures, pain, functional weakness, hypnosis, and neuroimaging. FND Society members will be among the speakers, reflecting a growing international dialogue. Keynote lectures and sessions will address topics such as the history and future of FND, open-label placebo, the neuroscience of hypnosis, cultural formulation in the approach to functional disorders, and the ethical and clinical dimensions of placebo-based interventions. Together, these sessions will help build bridges between mechanistic research and the practical realities of patient care. The conference is supported by the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies, the International Society of Hypnosis, and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, along with additional academic and clinical partners. FNDS welcomes this timely meeting and the continued growth of interdisciplinary collaboration around functional disorders. |
Functional Movement Disorders Workshop at the
2026 AAN Annual Meeting
From left to right: Shilpa Chitnis, MD, PhD, FANA, FAAN; Selma Aybek, MD, FAAN; Sarah Lidstone, MD, PhD
Functional movement disorders (FMDs) were prominently featured at the 2026 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Chicago through the seminar, “Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Movement Disorders,” held on Sunday, April 19, 2026. The session was directed by Dr. Sarah Lidstone and brought together in-person and online attendees for a two-hour program focused on practical diagnosis, current mechanistic understanding, and treatment planning for FMDs.
The seminar reflected the continued growth of FMD education within neurology. Designed for residents, medical students, general neurologists, neuro-hospitalists, and movement disorders clinicians, the program emphasized that FMD disorder is a diagnosis that can be made through positive clinical signs, not by exclusion. It also highlighted the importance of the neurologist’s role in framing the diagnosis clearly, identifying appropriate next steps, and helping patients access multidisciplinary care.
The session opened with Dr. Shilpa Chitnis, who reviewed the clinical presentations and diagnostic approach to FMD. Dr. Selma Aybek then discussed pathological and therapeutic mechanisms, including the relevance of attention, stress, predictive coding, and agency in understanding symptoms and guiding treatment. Dr. Lidstone concluded the didactic portion with a clinical focus on triaging and treating FMD, followed by an interactive discussion devoted to questions, answers, and challenging cases.
The objectives for the session underscored several themes that are central to modern FMD care: recognizing the diagnosis at the bedside, understanding how brain mechanisms can inform treatment, and clarifying the neurologist’s role in diagnosis, communication, triage, and treatment planning.
Congratulations to Dr. Lidstone, Dr. Chitnis, and Dr. Aybek on an exceptional workshop and an important contribution to FMD education at the AAN!
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An Interview with Joseph Jankovic, MD
Joseph Jankovic, MD Dr. Joseph Jankovic is Professor of Neurology and Distinguished Chair in Movement Disorders at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he founded the Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic. He has played a central role in advancing the field of movement disorders through his clinical care, research, education, and mentorship, and was among the early leaders who helped establish what would become today's Functional Neurological Disorder Society. At the 2026 FNDS International Congress in Baltimore, he was recognized as one of the inaugural recipients of the Mark Hallett Award. An Interview with Anthony E. Lang, MD
Anthony E. Lang, MD Dr. Anthony E. Lang is Professor of Neurology at the University of Toronto, where he holds the Jack Clark Chair for Parkinson’s Disease Research. He is also Director of the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease, the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, and the Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He also holds the Lily Safra Chair in Movement Disorders at University Health Network. Dr. Lang is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in movement disorders. At the 2026 FNDS International Congress in Baltimore, he was recognized, alongside Dr. Joseph Jankovic, as one of the inaugural recipients of the Mark Hallett Award. |
The Promise of Patient-Led Healthcare Services: Bridging the Gap Between Patient Experiences
and Clinical Practices
by Jennifer Brown, PhD Student
Jennifer Brown, PhD Student
As our understanding of FND continues to evolve, so does our FND care. The most recent 6th International Conference on Functional Neurological Disorder highlighted the continued shift of FND care towards more patient-centered care through the presentation of functional symptoms, comorbidities, and therapeutic treatments in case studies as well as through cultural adaption of FND and patient-led research interventions. Combined, these initiatives support the continued integration of FND patients in their own care and the use of patients to better educate providers on FND. As of yet, there are few resources for the guidance of patient-led care, therefore, this discussion is predominantly talk in theory. However, I hope this discussion can help stimulate the ideas and the potential of FND care.
Patients as experts by experience
Why should professionals include patients in their own care? The answer is simple: FND patients want to be part of their care and want their experiences to be heard. It is not uncommon for patients to struggle to get FND care and to voice their opinion and experiences of FND with providers; it is well known that FND care is still at its infancy. However, providing the right care for FND patients is a challenge for providers who have not experienced FND themselves. FND patients experience uniquely distinct personal experiences of functional illness (FND) that cannot be fully understood or explained to healthcare providers who have not experienced FND themselves. In this sense, patients become “experts by experience,” gaining considerable knowledge and insight into FND by experiencing it firsthand (Hallow et al., 2022; Sawatzky & Kline, 2025).
Whether FND presents as “straightforward” symptoms and functional disorders, or as a more complex blends of symptoms, patients themselves gain considerable insight into FND by the act of living with the condition that healthcare providers can learn from. That is, patients develop an innate understanding of what their unique FND symptoms feel like, what specific triggers worsen vs improve symptoms, what strategies are most useful, and what it is like to adjust daily life. When these insights are shared with healthcare teams, these experiences are extremely powerful tools for both providers and patients in helping to bridge the gap between provider understandings of FND and the practices of clinicians in FND care.
Bridging the gap: The potential of patient experiences guiding clinical practice
Theoretically, in its most basic form, patient-led care should begin within the structured conversations between a healthcare provider and FND patient. In essence, the goal of FND patient-led care can focus on helping providers develop greater awareness and understanding of what living with FND is like for patients. In my opinion, this awareness should come directly from the patients who have the lived experiences themselves, with greater interest in those patients who have a long history of FND symptoms, diverse triggers, histories of many treatments, and perhaps most importantly, those who have experienced remission, either complete or partial. In sum, patient-led education has significant potential for being integrated into modern medicine, with the hope that patients can help educate the medical world into better understanding and treating FND.
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Recent Podcast
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FND Society Journal Club
Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 11:00 am Eastern Time (3:00 pm UTC)
Article: Functional sensory symptoms and signs: a case-control study of 102 patients
Glenn Nielsen, PhD, BSc Physiotherapy, is an academic and clinical physiotherapist at City St George's University of London, and St George's University Hospital. His main research interest is developing and improving rehabilitation for people with FND. He is the lead physiotherapist for a specialist FND Clinic, providing rehabilitation for people with FND motor symptoms. His research focuses on developing specialist rehabilitation and trials of clinical effectiveness. He co-leads the UK AHP FND Network (ahpfndnetwork.org) and is on the board of directors for the International Functional Neurological Disorder Society.
Proud of your new paper? Join the FNDS Journal Club Database!
If you have recently published a paper you are proud of, we would love to hear from you! By submitting your information, you will become part of our Journal Club Database, where you could be contacted to be our next Journal Club presenter. Simply fill out our Contact Information Form with your details. We will keep your information on file, and if there is a need to follow up, we will be sure to reach out. Let us keep the conversation going – submit your paper today!
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Functional Neurological Disorder Society |