NeuroRehabilitation 52 (2023) 153–154
DOI:10.3233/NRE-228029
IOS Press
153
Book Review
Review of Functional movement disorder:
An interdisciplinary case-based approach
(LaFaver, Maurer, Nicholson, & Perez,
2022)
Nathan D. Zasler
Concussion Care Centre of Virginia, Ltd., Richmond, VA, USA
E-mail: nzasler@cccv-ltd.com
Functional movement disorder: An interdisci-
plinary case-based approach
Editors: Kathrin LaFaver, Carine W. Maurer, Tim-
othy R. Nicholson, and David L. Perez
Series Editor: Daniel Tarsy, Current Clinical Neu-
rology
Publisher: Humana Press
ISBN 978-3-030-86494-1
ISBN 978-3-030-86495-8 (eBook)
SSN 2524–4043 (electronic)
Functional neurologic symptom disorder is a con-
dition that those of us working in neurorehabilitation
may encounter but not necessarily always recognize.
There has been a significant burgeoning of knowledge
in this area over the last 20 years in the context of
understanding underlying mechanisms, assessment
and treatment of this important class of impairments.
The critical need to differentiate functional neurolog-
ical disorders which are often disabling from other
types of impairments given differences in underlying
mechanisms, prognosis and clinical treatment cannot
be overstated. Although there has been a significant
increase in literature and evidence-based medicine
examining functional neurological disorders, there
are few published texts on any aspect of this con-
dition, nevermind specific aspects such as in the text
being reviewed here on functional movement disor-
ders (FMDs).
The editors of this volume published through
Current Clinical Neurology are all well-known con-
tributors to the literature in the area of FNDs and have
assembled a diverse list of contributors and topics
addressing this fascinating area of neurology and neu-
rorehabilitation. The first 4 chapters of the book make
up part 1 which is entitled “framework” and provides
important perspectives on historical aspects of the
disorder nicely presented by Dr. Kanaan. The next
chapter by Dr. Hallet provides a very nice review of
anatomy and FND pathophysiology in the context of
a number of hypotheses regarding drivers for FNDs,
which makes for interesting reading and suggests the
underpinnings of FMD lay in a multi-network brain
disorder. The next chapter by MacGillivray and Lid-
stone takes an interesting look at biopsychosocial
aspects of FMD, and this is followed by a chapter
delving into the integration of psychiatric and neu-
rological perspectives of the disorder (authored by
Anderson, Perez and Price).
The second part of the book deals with specific
functional motor presentations as well as their occur-
rence in children and older adults. Many of the
well-known functional motor disorders are discussed
including limb weakness, dystonia, gait disorders,
ISSN 1053-8135/$35.00 © 2023 – IOS Press. All rights reserved.