William Curt LaFrance Jr, MD, MPH, FAAN, FANPA, DFAPA, Brown University, Providence, RI, describes current therapeutic strategies for functional neurological disorders (FNDs). Experts believe the best way to treat FNDs is a multi-modal integrative whole-person approach. The main component of this is neurobehavioral therapy, which aims to treat neuropsychiatric disorders and their common co-morbidities, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. A range of other psychotherapeutic modalities can also be employed, including individual psychoeducation and motivational interviewing, conventional cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral elements. This broad range of treatments means that FND patients are often treated by professionals in numerous fields, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social workers, and speech and language therapists. Prof. Curt LaFrance Jr has been at the forefront of coordinating FND clinics and training other professionals from diverse backgrounds with the hopes of breaking down the barrier between neurology and psychiatry. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting 2023 in Boston, MA.
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