A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of short-term psychodynamic psychtherapy (STPP) for functional disorders. Seventeen RCTs were identified. STPP significantly outperformed minimal treatment, treatment-as-usual and waitlist controls on somatic symptom reduction immediately following treatment and at follow-up.

This paper outlines the theoretical basis for ISTDP as a treatment option for patients with functional neurological disorder and reviews the existing research. It explores mechanisms of change and the potential role of maladaptive emotion processing for some people with FND. The application of ISTDP to FND is described and illustrated with direct therapy transcripts.

This article sets out a model for an integrated multidisciplinary approach to FND without additional specialist funding and as part of core services. This was developed in a collaboration between Devon Partnership NHS Trust and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust.

A British Psychlogical Society Briefing Paper reviewing current evidence and practice in the neuropsychological and psychological theory and management of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in the context of the emerging wider field of multidisciplinary management of FND and with recommendations for the direction of travel in developing better services for people with FND.

This review aimed to evaluate the economic impact of ISTDP to provide a quick reference for commissioners and decision-makers tasked with reducing healthcare costs. This article identifies evidence of substantial reductions in hospital, physician, medication and disability costs following ISTDP treatment in mental health and functional somatic conditions.

A keynote presentation from the 2025 Psychological Society of Ireland conference in Athlone, examining Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) through a psychologically informed and multidisciplinary lens. Drawing on clinical experience and the principles of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), this presentation outlines the potential relationship between emotion processing and functional symptoms, and discusses therapeutic approaches that can help patients reduce symptoms, restore functioning, and achieve meaningful recovery.

My conversation with Niklas Lanbeck ahead of my presentation to the Swedish Society for ISTDP. We discuss my introduction to ISTDP, its application to functional symptoms, the development of multidisciplinary pathways, and integrating ISTDP into routine care.

My conversation on the "BeWellWithMS” podcast with Dr Agne Straukiene. We discussed FND symptoms, how these may sometimes be caused or worsened by maladaptive emotion processing, and the potential interactions and complexities for patients who have both MS and FND.

“After eight years on long-term disability, Kim Hawes had nearly given up hope she'd ever be well enough to return to her job at the Nova Scotia Department of Justice.” This article and accompanying podcast outline the work of Dr Abbass and his team at the Center for Emotions and Health in Halifax, Canada. Through first hand accounts, the article and podcast illustrate the profound benefits achieved through ISTDP for functional symptoms.

FND FrieNDs is a UK-based charity located in the South West of England dedicated to raising awareness of Functional Neurological Disorder and offering support for people with the condition, as well as their families and carers. They provide a network of meet-ups, crafting and holistic therapy sessions in locations such as Devon, Cornwall, Bristol, and Somerset, and also engage with healthcare professionals to improve understanding of FND and foster better treatment pathways.

The Functional Neurological Disorder Society is a multidisciplinary international organisation dedicated to advancing the science, awareness and clinical care of functional neurological disorders (FND). It brings together neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and researchers to drive education, develop best-practice treatment approaches and support patients whose symptoms stem from altered nervous-system functioning rather than structural brain disease.

This library provides a curated list of some of the major reviews and meta-analyses exploring the ISTDP’s empirical base. It details studies on cost-effectiveness in public healthcare, its use for functional neurological and somatic disorders (including chronic pain), and its broader efficacy across depression, anxiety, personality disorders and other conditions. The page emphasizes areas where ISTDP shows strong outcomes—including long-term symptom improvement and reductions in healthcare and disability costs—and highlights how the method has been implemented and studied internationally (for example, in Norway).