The FND Clinic partners with community clinicians to improve access and health outcomes for patients with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
This page provides practical tools to support providers in identifying, referring, and coordinating care for individuals with FND.
Current Wait Time: ~2 Months
If you have been told something different, please call 720-515-0380
Referral Information:
For questions, contact the FND Clinic Program Manager. Phone: 720-515-0380 Email: mackenzi.moore@cuanschutz.edu
How to Refer a Patient
- Referrals to the FND Clinic can be submitted by placing the “AMBULATORY REFERRAL TO AMC NEURO FUNCTIONAL CONVERSION” order set in Epic OR by faxing the paper referral form (attached below) to 720-848-2106
- Please include the following information in your referral:
- Diagnosis: Functional Seizures (FS) or Functional Movement Disorder (FMD)
- Reason for diagnosis: ATTN Dr. Laura Strom – FND Clinic (functional neurological disorder)
- Referring provider name and contact information (in case we need to reach out)
- Diagnostic EEG report and neurology imaging records (if you have access to them)
- If you do not have access, it is very helpful for us to know the primary neurologist’s name and location of those records, if known
- Relevant behavioral health notes with confirmed diagnoses
- Please notify the program manager that the referral is on its way through email or phone
Who We Treat
- Patients with Functional Seizures (FS) confirmed by EEG monitoring with video.
- The video portion is essential as it is used in the treatment of the patient.
- Patients with Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) confirmed by a Movement Disorder Specialist.
- Patients with any insurance type accepted at UCH, including Medicaid
Our program is designed to meet the needs of a specific patient population. At this time, we are unable to directly serve individuals who:
- Have significant cognitive impairments that affect their ability to engage independently in care
- Are currently experiencing active substance use disorders that are not yet stabilized
- Are not comfortable communicating in English and require interpretation services we do not currently provide
We are committed to supporting all patients in finding the right care. For those whose needs fall outside the scope of our services, we will work closely with referring providers and community partners to help identify appropriate and accessible alternatives.
Video Upload Information:
If the patient has not been diagnosed with an EEG, Dr. Strom will request video uploads of the patient’s seizure, please ask the patient to follow the instructions attached below.
RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS:
Online Courses (Vetted)
Webinars
- Our past webinar regarding NES – along with the presentation, seizure action plan and resources
- Non-Epileptic Seizures Webinar: An Introduction for patients and loved ones by Dr. Lorna Myers – A video that discusses psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) including, definition, diagnosis, psychological symptoms, and treatment options.
Educational Videos & Channels
- FND Hope YouTube Channel – contains videos about FND that highlight campaigns for FND awareness, stories from real people, and information from conferences
- FND Australia – educational videos about FND, definition, causes, the process of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, and the possibility to have FND and another disorder
- Self Managing Your FND – contains videos related to self-managing FND symptoms
Professional Networks
- FND Hope – An international patient-run registered charity for patients with functional neurological disorders. Material for patients with functional neurological disorders, like symptoms, providers, research, and stories.
- Psychological Non Epileptic Seizures – patient consumer information, public and professional education website on psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Two sections, one for PNES community (patients and loved ones) and one for health professionals seeking reliable information.
- FND Guide – Functional Neurological disorder more information about symptoms, causes, treatment, and stories along with videos.
Peer & Community Support
- FND Hope Peer Support Groups & Events
- FND Patient Booklet (English)
- FND Patient Booklet (Spanish)
- English & Spanish versions of the booklet contain information on what FND is and the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for FND. Also contains tips and techniques patients have shared to help manage or cope with FND.
Local and Specialty Referrals
- FND Clinic Flow Diagram
- Visual overview of patient progression from neurology intake to behavioral health follow-up
- FND Symptom Response Plan
- Fillable PDF for individualized patient support plans
- Example Action Plan for Ideas
- Sample completed version for training purposes
- FND Support Suggestions
- Tip sheet for families and caregivers to respond calmly during symptoms
Treatment Modalities Commonly Used for FND
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT0
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Mindfulness-Based Therapies
- Biofeedback
- MoRe Treatment (Motor Reprogramming)
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Talking Point Suggestions for Explaining NES – Clear, validating language for discussing functional seizures with patients
- FND Support Suggestions – Tip sheet for families and caregivers to respond calmly during symptoms
- Symptom Response Plan – Example dialogue for educating patients and support networks
General Overview of FND
- Ten Myths about Functional Neurological Disorder
- Clarifies misconceptions and reframes FND as a common, brain-based condition rather than a diagnosis of exclusion.
- Recognizing and Explaining Functional Neurological Disorder
- Practical guide for identifying positive signs and communicating the diagnosis effectively.
- Functional Neurological Disorder: Practical Management
- Comprehensive review of multidisciplinary treatment models and coordinated care strategies.
- Functional symptoms in neurology
- Classic overview describing clinical presentation, patient communication, and diagnostic reasoning.
- A review of functional neurological symptom disorder etiology and the integrated etiological summary model
- Summarizes the biopsychosocial model linking neurocircuit, psychological, and environmental contributors.
Discipline-Specific Consensus & Practice Guidelines
- Occupational therapy consensus recommendations for functional neurological disorder
- Defines assessment and rehabilitation principles for OT within a biopsychosocial framework.
- Management of functional communication, swallowing, cough and related disorders: consensus recommendations for speech and language therapy
- Speech-language pathology consensus on treatment for FND-related communication and swallowing issues.
- Functional cognitive disorders: clinical presentations and treatment approaches
- Reviews diagnostic features, internal inconsistency, and behavioral interventions for cognitive subtypes
Neuroscience & Neuropsychological Perspectives
- An Integrative Neurocircuit Perspective on Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures and Functional Movement Disorders: Neural Functional Unawareness
- Explores emotion-motor network dysregulation and neuroimaging evidence across FND subtypes.
- Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (2005)
- Foundational review describing misdiagnosis patterns, psychosocial factors, and early treatment strategies.
- Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (2018)
- Updated literature synthesis on prognosis, comorbidity, and management approaches.
- Nonepileptic Seizures: Neuropsychological Mechanisms
- Examines cognitive-emotional mechanisms underlying PNES and functional symptom expression.
Treatment Workbooks
- Overcoming Functional Neurological Symptoms – Self-guided workbook, do NOT need behavioral health provider.
- Taking Control of Your Seizures (NOTE: can work for all FND symptoms) – Used with a behavioral health provider, there is a provider and patient workbook. This is the patient workbook.
- Reset & Rewire: The FND Workbook for Kids & Teens – Can also be helpful for adults.
- Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures: A Guide
Professional & Provider Well-Being
- Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others – Managing secondary trauma and compassion fatigue.
- The Body Keeps the Score – Classic text connecting trauma, physiology, and treatment.
Books Written by Individuals with FND
What We Do:
The Functional Neurological Disorders clinic uses a shared decision making, multidisciplinary approach supported by an expert team of neurologists, psychiatrists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and social workers.
- All NES/FS patients will begin treatment with both a neurology and a behavioral health intake.
- FMD patients will begin with only the behavioral health intake, as they will have already been evaluated by a movement specialist prior to referral.
During the neurology intake, our neurologist reviews the patient’s V-EEG results, confirms the diagnosis of functional seizures, assesses for any co-occurring epilepsy, and provides a clear neurological explanation of the diagnosis.
At behavioral health intake, our psychiatrists conduct a full psychiatric evaluation. This includes identifying psychiatric comorbidities, reviewing current medications, discussing the diagnosis from a psychiatric perspective, and determining whether group therapy is clinically appropriate for each patient. Psychiatrists provide follow-up visits as needed to ensure individualized care and to support coordination with outside therapists.
Following intake, patients may move into one of several treatment pathways depending on their needs, preferences, and clinical appropriateness:
- Individual Behavioral Health Follow-Up
- 12-Week Multimodal Adapted Psychotherapy (MAP) Group
- 12-Week Psychodynamic Therapy Group
- FMD Rehabilitation Treatment (for movement presentations)
All treatment paths ultimately transition patients to long-term care with a trained community behavioral health provider once foundational work is completed.
Individual Behavioral Health Follow-Up
Some patients decline group therapy or are not appropriate for a group setting. These patients are seen individually for focused follow-up visits before transitioning back to their primary care provider or community therapist.
12-Week Multimodal Adapted Psychotherapy (MAP) Group
A structured neurobehavioral group incorporating cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and neuroscience-informed strategies. Led by two providers and capped at twelve patients.
12-Week Psychodynamic Therapy Group
A process-oriented, unstructured therapy group for patients who may benefit from deeper work on communication patterns, relational dynamics, and the role of functional symptoms as coping mechanisms. Led by two providers and capped at twelve participants.
FMD Rehabilitation Treatment
Patients with functional movement symptoms complete an eight-week rehabilitation program that includes PT, OT, and SLP (if indicated) at partnered UCHealth rehabilitation sites.
DISCHARGE FROM FND CLINIC:
The FND Clinic is not a long-term or chronic care program. Most patients participate for approximately three to six months, depending on their treatment pathway. Due to the high volume of referrals and limited specialized resources, our goal is to stabilize patients, provide specialized foundational treatment, and transition them to ongoing individual therapy in the community.
At discharge, our neurologist communicates with the patient’s primary care provider (PCP) to ensure that all medical records are transferred and that the PCP has a clear plan for continued care.
If you are working with a patient who has participated in our clinic and have questions about their treatment course or remaining needs, please contact the FND Clinic program manager. Some patients may not complete all recommended components of treatment, and individualized follow-up may be appropriate.