Persisting Symptoms After Concussion and Functional Neurological Disorder: Points of Intersection

Persistent symptoms after concussion (PSaC) and functional neurological disorder (FND) are frequently encountered in clinical practice and are often challenging to manage due to heterogeneous and polysymptomatic presentations, as well as fragmented care pathways. This review outlines key points of intersection between PSaC and FND across pathophysiology, illness beliefs, rehabilitation models, and emerging treatments. We describe when FND should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with PSaC, and provide guidance on history-taking, examination, diagnostic communication, and rehabilitation planning that can be applied to both conditions. We also examine the influence of expectations, clinical messaging, and interactions with the healthcare system on recovery. Integrating principles from FND into concussion care may help clinicians more accurately formulate cases and support individualized rehabilitation pathways.