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Illness Perception, Coping, and Psychosocial Outcomes in Children with Functional Neurological Disorders Compared to

Barbara Zuro Jakovac1, David Hevey1, Phillip Coey2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|January 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with functional neurological disorders (FND) experience more difficult illness perceptions and worse psychosocial outcomes than those with epilepsy. Coping strategies significantly impact these relationships, highlighting the need for tailored support.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Child Psychology
  • Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

  • Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) and epilepsy are chronic conditions in children with significant psychosocial impacts.
  • Understanding differences in illness perceptions and coping is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare illness perceptions, coping, and psychosocial outcomes in children with FND versus epilepsy.
  • To examine the moderating and mediating roles of coping in the relationship between illness perceptions and psychosocial outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 33 children with FND and 32 with epilepsy.
  • Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing illness perceptions, coping strategies, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life.

Main Results:

  • Children with FND reported more threatening illness perceptions, higher anxiety and depression, and poorer quality of life.
  • Threatening illness perceptions correlated with increased anxiety and decreased quality of life in both groups.
  • Coping strategies differentially moderated the impact of illness perceptions on psychosocial outcomes between the FND and epilepsy groups.

Conclusions:

  • Illness perceptions and coping strategies are critical factors influencing psychosocial well-being in children with FND and epilepsy.
  • Tailored interventions addressing illness perceptions and promoting adaptive coping are essential for improving outcomes in these pediatric populations.

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