Team Approach to Functional Neurological Disorder with Traumatic Brain Injury in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a prevalent yet underrecognized cause of neurological disability and one of the most common reasons for neurology referral, yet access to structured rehabilitation pathways remains limited. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman who developed persistent dissociative seizures and disabling multi-domain symptoms in acute care following traumatic brain injury. Following transfer to an inpatient acquired brain injury rehabilitation unit, physiatrist-led diagnostic clarification, interprofessional team training and structured interdisciplinary patient and family education on FND, and function-oriented, FND-informed rehabilitation strategies were implemented. During the rehabilitation admission, her dissociative seizures decreased in severity and frequency, medical comorbidities were managed without readmission to acute care, and she achieved meaningful gains in mobility, cognition, independence, and self-management strategies for her functional seizures, allowing safe discharge home. This case emphasizes the critical role of inpatient rehabilitation units, physiatry leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration with neurology and psychology in managing complex FND presentations in an inpatient setting. Further, it highlights the urgent need to diagnose FND early so treatment plans can be adapted accordingly.