July 30, 2026

@michaelokun

One of the slides from Tony Lang's Aspen Course lecture that stayed with me addressed one of the most important questions we face in caring for people with functional neurological disorder (FND): Who gets better? The encouraging message is that recovery is possible, especially when symptoms are recognized early, treatment begins promptly, and coexisting anxiety or depression is addressed. At the same time, longer symptom duration, complex psychiatric comorbidities, and ongoing psychosocial stressors can make recovery more challenging. My biggest takeaway was not simply that prognosis varies, but that we have to do better. Earlier diagnosis, clearer communication, timely access to specialized physical therapy and mental health care, and a coordinated multidisciplinary team can change lives. The goal should be to help more people become part of the group that gets better, not simply to predict who will.