The body electric: a long view of electrical therapy for functional neurological disorders

Abstract

Functional disorders are common in neurology clinics. These disorders—also called psychogenic, or non-organic—encompass symptoms such as paralysis, tremor and seizures. The current approach to functional disorders involves a clear diagnosis based on positive physical signs, educating patients, and offering therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy or physiotherapy, but in recent years, small trials of electrical peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have produced very promising results (Pollak et al., 2014). This use of electricity looks at first sight like a surprising new turn. Yet, little is as new as it looks; electricity has been used medically since early history.