[What do medical students think about functional neurological disorders?]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Medical Education

Context:

• Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are common neurological conditions.
• Training on FNDs is often limited in undergraduate and residency programs.
• Understanding student knowledge and attitudes is crucial for improving FND education.

Purpose:

• To assess medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and exposure to FNDs.
• To evaluate current understanding and identify educational gaps in FNDs among medical students.

Summary:

• A survey of 118 sixth-year medical students in Spain revealed awareness of FNDs, but also persistent misconceptions.
• Students frequently used outdated terminology and held beliefs linking FNDs to abuse and psychosomatic origins.
• A significant majority recognized the need for improved FND training from neurology and psychiatry.

Impact:

• Findings highlight the need for updated medical curricula on FNDs.
• Results underscore the importance of integrating FND education with both neurological and psychiatric perspectives.
• Improved training can lead to better diagnosis and management of FNDs in future physicians.