Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Invited Review

Borderline regions between neurology and psychiatry, focusing particularly on the functional neurological disorders

Masahiro Sonoo, M.D.1)

1) Department of Neurology, Teikyo University School of Medicine

Neurology in Japan did not develop from the separation of neuropsychiatry into neurology and psychiatry, which casts a shadow on the present situation of Japanese neurology. Functional neurological disorder (FND; hysteria) is a typical link between neurology and psychiatry. FND is a common disorder, which has been described from the ancient times and has also been the headstream of neurology. FND is not diagnosed by exclusion or by psychiatric causes, but should be actively diagnosed based on the neurological signs themselves (= positive signs of FND) as early as possible, with minimal ancillary tests. This opinion has been supported by the newest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Many positive signs have been described. Assessment by a neurologist also becomes a treatment.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1526K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 63: 135|144, 2023)
key words: functional neurological disorders, hysteria, functional weakness, positive signs, cognitive behavioural therapy

(Received: 6-Nov-22)