From Hysteria to Conversion Disorder to Functional Neurological Disorder: A Neuropsychoanalytic Discussion

ARTICLE HISTORY Received 19 May 2025; Accepted 26 May 2025

We devote this issue to a fascinating topic that was closely involved with the creation of psychoanalysis, namely, that of hysteria, later called conversion disorder, and currently named functional neurological symptom disorder (FND). We present an updated discussion on the topic that encompasses diverse perspectives including the neurological, the psychiatric and neuropsychiatric, the psychoanalytic, and the neuropsychoanalytic. This issue publishes a brilliant target article by Mark Solms, “‘Function’ in Functional Neurological Disorders: The Common Ground of Neuroscience and Psychoanalysis” (Solms, 2025). Based on Solms’ closing remarks at the 23rd Congress of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society held in Trieste, Italy in 2024, the paper goes back to the neuroanatomical background of Freud’s early career to show how hysterical symptoms became one of his main interests to the degree that made him abandon his neurological work and attempt to explain the way the mind works. Fourteen authors wrote commentaries that discuss Solms’ proposal. The authors come from different backgrounds that elaborate on the advances of an intriguing topic still in search of answers. Jon Stone’s commentary titled “The Legacy of Psychoanalysis for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): Insights and Harms” addresses the importance of giving a place to FND in neurology as well as in psychoanalysis (Stone, 2025). He discusses his preference for the name FND instead of conversion disorder, arguing that the disorder is multifactorial. Mark Edwards’ commentary is entitled “How to Lesion an Idea – Commentary on Solms: ‘Function’ in Functional Neurological Disorders” and it describes FND symptoms as a consequence of consciousness. He considers Freud’s ideas on hysteria important contributions and addresses the question on how an idea can be lesioned (Edwards, 2025). Selma Aybek and Olaf Blanke present a commentary titled “Body an