NPC Registration No: 2024/319828/08
South African Research Spotlight
Limited research and resources for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in South Africa restrict context-specific care. The studies below highlight clinical profiles, costs, and patient experiences, underscoring challenges and opportunities for improvement.
This paper explores Functional Seizures, also known as Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES)—real, involuntary episodes often mistaken for epilepsy. It calls for greater understanding and more compassionate, integrated care that recognises the complexity of patient experiences. It also highlights the importance of clear, supportive communication at diagnosis.
This study analyses the economic impact of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) by comparing inpatient healthcare costs to other neurological conditions at Universitas Tertiary Academic Hospital. Using retrospective data from 2018–2019, it identifies FND cases and evaluates cost patterns, helping address limited insight into FND’s economic impact in South Africa.
This study examines Functional Neurological Disorders (FNDs) in a South African tertiary setting at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), using a 14-year retrospective review (2003–2017) to outline patient clinical profiles, coexisting conditions, and patterns of investigation and management, contributing to the limited African data on FND.
Why We're Attending SACNA 2026
In South Africa's resource-constrained healthcare landscape, formal Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) research is limited. At SACNA 2026 Conference , we aim to start a conversation on how lived experience can inform clinical practice.
