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Neurology 27 April 2026

Functional neurological disorder in Australia: disabling, stigmatised, and under-served

Sarah* is 34, works in administration, and has spent two years without a diagnosis. Her symptoms began with cognitive episodes — words vanishing from her screen mid-sentence and memory lapses — followed by functional seizures and right-sided weakness requiring emergency department care. CT scans and an MRI were unremarkable. She was variously labelled with migraine and anxiety and referred back to her GP. Patients like Sarah are common, yet our health system offers no clear pathway for their care.

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