Occupational therapy interventions for functional neurological disorder: a scoping review

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.