Occupational therapy interventions for functional neurological disorder: a scoping review
4 affiliations
- 1The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- 2Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London
- 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London
- 4Neuroscience Research Institute, City St George's University of London
Abstract
Introduction: Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a common and disabling condition for which multidisciplinary rehabilitation is recommended; however, the specific contribution of occupational therapy remains poorly defined. This scoping review aimed to map and characterize occupational therapy interventions for people with FND, examine how these are delivered and evaluated within rehabilitation and identify priorities for future research.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Peer-reviewed English-language intervention studies involving adults (≥18 years) with FND who received occupational therapy delivered independently or as part of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and reporting treatment outcomes were included. Descriptive analysis was undertaken. OVID Medline, Embase, APA PsycInfo and CINAHL Plus were searched from inception to July 2026, supplemented by reference list screening.
Results: Forty-one studies ( n = 1,284 participants; sample sizes 1–201) were included, with only one randomized study. Occupational therapy was predominantly delivered within multidisciplinary rehabilitation; only one study included a subgroup receiving occupational therapy alone. Despite considerable variation in intervention reporting, common occupational therapy intervention components included facilitating occupational engagement, movement retraining and anxiety management, with symptom management strategies integrated into functional activities to promote confidence and independence. Improvements in symptom severity, functional ability, mental health, and quality of life were reported following multidisciplinary rehabilitation including occupational therapy. However, findings were primarily derived from uncontrolled studies, and interpretation was further limited by heterogeneity in intervention approaches, inconsistent use of outcome measures, and variable follow-up.
Discussion: Although occupational therapy was included in all eligible studies, occupational therapy-specific interventions and associated outcomes were inconsistently described and evaluated, limiting understanding of occupational therapy's distinct contribution within multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Future research should focus on clearly defining and evaluating the components of occupational therapy interventions.
Related
- The Functional Neurological Disorder, Volume 1: Non-systematic review from the scientific literature
- Improving care for patients with functional neurological symptom disorder (FND): Clinical pearls for front line providers
- Empowering recovery: the role of self-management in motor-functional neurological disorder.
- Effects of Occupational Therapy Interventions on Occupational Performance and Physical and Cognitive Fatigue in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Effect of MOHO-based occupational therapy techniques on stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and occupational performance among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder
BibTeX
@article{nicholson2026occupational,
title = {{Occupational therapy interventions for functional neurological disorder: a scoping review}},
author = {Clare Nicholson and Fabiana Lorencatto and Mahinda Yogarajah and Glenn Nielsen},
journal = {Frontiers in Neurology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fneur.2026.1926640},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1926640/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Occupational therapy interventions for functional neurological disorder: a scoping review
AU - Clare Nicholson
AU - Fabiana Lorencatto
AU - Mahinda Yogarajah
AU - Glenn Nielsen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Frontiers in Neurology
DO - 10.3389/fneur.2026.1926640
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1926640/full
AB - Introduction: Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a common and disabling condition for which multidisciplinary rehabilitation is recommended; however, the specific contribution of occupational therapy remains poorly defined. This scoping review aimed to map and characterize occupational therapy interventions for people with FND, examine how these are delivered and evaluated within rehabilitation and identify priorities for future research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Peer-reviewed English-language intervention studies involving adults (≥18 years) with FND who received occupational therapy delivered independently or as part of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and reporting treatment outcomes were included. Descriptive analysis was undertaken. OVID Medline, Embase, APA PsycInfo and CINAHL Plus were searched from inception to July 2026, supplemented by reference list screening. Results: Forty-one studies ( n = 1,284 participants; sample sizes 1–201) were included, with only one randomized study. Occupational therapy was predominantly delivered within multidisciplinary rehabilitation; only one study included a subgroup receiving occupational therapy alone. Despite considerable variation in intervention reporting, common occupational therapy intervention components included facilitating occupational engagement, movement retraining and anxiety management, with symptom management strategies integrated into functional activities to promote confidence and independence. Improvements in symptom severity, functional ability, mental health, and quality of life were reported following multidisciplinary rehabilitation including occupational therapy. However, findings were primarily derived from uncontrolled studies, and interpretation was further limited by heterogeneity in intervention approaches, inconsistent use of outcome measures, and variable follow-up. Discussion: Although occupational therapy was included in all eligible studies, occupational therapy-specific interventions and associated outcomes were inconsistently described and evaluated, limiting understanding of occupational therapy's distinct contribution within multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Future research should focus on clearly defining and evaluating the components of occupational therapy interventions.
SN - 1664-2295
ER -