Preventing the risk of iatrogenic harm when assessing and diagnosing functional neurological disorders and other functional somatic symptoms

Abstract

The present commentary raises some concerns about the risk of iatrogenic harm arising out of the diagnosis of functional neurologic and somatic disorders. These concerns are supported by evidence from the history of hysteria and findings from contemporary brain imaging. We discuss their implications for practice.

Keywords

• Functional neurological symptoms
• functional somatic symptoms
• hysteria
• iatrogenic harm