In summary, we suggest that conversion disorder be renamed "functional neurological disorder" and that the requirement for the exclusion of feigning and identification of associated psychological factors be relegated to the accompanying text Jon Stone American Journal of Psychiatry 2010

Fascinating documentary, got me thinking. How Jon Stone helps functionally blind patients to see again; “When I help people get their seizures under control, see them walk again, or sometimes even help blind patients see again, it feels pretty amazing.” (Quote from the BMJ, 2023;381: p889, ‘fighting the FND stigma: the consultant neurologist’). I don’t doubt it, it must be an incredible feeling. It’s just those FND faith healing parallels. Here’s a paper on Functional vision loss, a subtype of FND, aimed at ophthalmologists. One of the authors is Professor Jon Stone, world leading authority on FND. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-024-03126-w Drop Box 2, describes a ‘vignette’ of a 16-year-old male, with complex regional pain syndrome, found to have functional vision issues, without evidence of structural abnormality on OCT, MRI, etc. Funny how he suffered blurry vision and dizziness when put on Pregablin. I’m no expert by any means, but could it be the medication? Visual disturbances, and dizziness are listed as a common side effect of pregabalin. Can’t believe any doctor is that myopic! Which leaves me wondering, what else are the authors not disclosing here? Doesn’t seem too convincing a sales pitch for ophthalmologists, but what would I know? Also, weirdly the patient’s gender appears to change mid-sentence!? Maybe this was in the interest of gender equality, as we know FND disproportionately affects females! Or, are females just more open to suggestion? Parallels with Faith Healer tactics are disturbing; 1. The use of hypnotherapy (suggestion therapy) in both cases 2. In response to patient scepticism emotional leverage (using close family members) to achieve the desired outcome; believing the diagnosis. 3. Explanation for headache, as “challenging the block in the brain”. I’d only believe it if it were backed up by firm scientific evidence. Otherwise, it’s just pure mysticism to me. Maybe there’s a demon in there. And here’s the Faith healer blurb, quote; “There is consensus that patient’s confidence in the diagnosis of FND and motivation to engage with rehabilitation therapy is essential for successful treatment. Conversely, if a patient rejects the diagnosis, perhaps because it’s poorly explained, or because information is hard to access or understand, rehabilitation often fails. A successful explanation about FND to a patient is therefore a vital first step to allow successful treatment. In some cases, a well communicated diagnostic explanation can be, in of itself, therapeutic.” If rehab therapy doesn’t work, it’s the patient’s fault! It really is all just too confusing. I find it’s not how well FND’s explained, it’s the fundamental concept that makes me shudder. And graded light therapy for photophobia? WTF! “The use of sunglasses is therefore reasonable to the patient and has short term benefits, although in the longer term makes things worse. We recommend starting by explaining that the brain is sensitive, but the more you wear sunglasses the more sensitive it becomes. Management involves graded sensitisation to light which may involve a structured plan to have reductions in opacity of sunglasses or spend longer and longer without sunglasses. This kind of graded exposure is generically familiar territory for clinical psychology, for example in relation to insect or flying phobia, but they may need support to understand that this approach can also work for photophobia. A clinical psychologist may be helpful but is not always essential to help people wean themselves off sunglasses in our experience.” Echoes here for discredited GET therapy for ME patients.