Functional cognitive disorders: identification and management
Open accessAbstract
SUMMARY: We review the various functional cognitive disorders (FCDs) – complaints about memory function or another cognitive process in the absence of relevant neuropathology. These are increasingly coming to the attention of psychiatrists and neurologists and FCD encompasses some newly recognised conditions in addition to classic types such as pseudodementia and psychogenic amnesia. The clinical features, neuropsychological findings and treatment are presented and discussed. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After reading this article you will be able to: • describe clinical features of FCD and how it differs from neurodegenerative causes of cognitive impairment • be able to subclassify cases of FCD using the proposed nosology • understand how to discuss the diagnosis with the patient and explain how the symptoms arise.
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Despite some recent exceptions, FCD lags behind in this regard and too many clinicians in memory clinics are wary of the diagnosis and its plethora of confusing synonyms, which can hinder research.
“However, despite some recent exceptions (6, 33, 37) FCD lags behind in this regard and too many clinicians in memory clinics are wary of the diagnosis and its plethora of confusing synonyms (8), which can hinder research (4).”
From A qualitative analysis of patients' day-to-day living with functional cognitive disorder (FCD). (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
The Abstract (page not provided) says memory-clinic patients are often discharged without a diagnosis or given a placeholder label. The Nosology section and Box 1 (pages not provided) document the many terms used for FCD. These passages support diagnostic uncertainty and varied terminology, but do not directly establish that clinicians are wary of the diagnosis. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThis may be because it is yet unclear how to conceptualise and manage this group of patients.
“This may be because it is yet unclear how to conceptualise and manage this group of patients (33).”
From A qualitative analysis of patients' day-to-day living with functional cognitive disorder (FCD). (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
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Self-citation[Functional cognitive disorders].
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Funktionelle kognitive Störungen erkennen und verstehen
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- Authors
- Poole, N. A., Cope, S. R., Bailey, C., & Isaacs, J. D.
- Affiliations
- St George's Hospital (GB)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Poole, Norman A.
- Venue
- BJPsych Advances
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2019-06-10
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 342-350
- ISSN
- 2056-4678 (ISSN-L)
- 2056-4686
- OpenAlex
- W2952493336
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 1.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- BJPsych Advances (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- functional cognitive disorder, pseudodementia, psychogenic amnesia, memory impairment, neuropsychological assessment, disease classification, treatment
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