Functional Neurological Disorder Program to Provide Streamlined, Integrated Care
Multidisciplinary team to offer comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment
January 20, 2026
The Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center will soon launch a Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Program specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of functional neurological symptoms not caused by an underlying neurological or medical condition. These symptoms may include limb weakness, speech dysfunction, seizures or involuntary movements.
This interprofessional program will bring neurology, counseling psychology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, social work, and neurorehabilitation specialists together to design customized treatment programs tailored to patient symptoms and severity.
“Functional neurological disorders can be challenging to diagnose because symptoms can closely resemble those of other neurological diseases, despite routine tests being normal,” said Umer Akbar, M.D., director of the Movement Disorders Center at Hackensack University Medical Center and professor of Neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. “Our team includes experienced providers with specialized training who will perform comprehensive evaluations to diagnose or rule out FND.”
After a diagnosis of FND, experts discuss and formulate a personalized treatment plan and will coordinate care, educate the patients about their condition, and provide symptomatic treatment and rehabilitation support. The goal is to help patients understand factors that may be contributing to their symptoms and help them to manage them.
“FND can cause debilitating symptoms and requires integrated care for the physical, psychological and social aspects of the condition,” said Akbar. “The FND Program will provide enhanced, streamlined access to comprehensive treatment to help patients improve their symptoms and optimize their quality of life.”
Learn more about innovative neurological care at Hackensack University Medical Center.
If you are a patient looking for expert neurological care at Hackensack Meridian Health, please visit our neurology and neurosurgery services page to learn about our specialties, find locations, and schedule appointments.