Functional neurological disorder (FND) is common in neuropsychological practice and frequently misunderstood. Long framed as conversion disorder and diagnosed by exclusion, FND is now recognized as a brain network condition identifiable by positive clinical signs — a shift with direct consequences for how clinicians assess, interpret, and explain these presentations.

In this recorded interview, Dr. Jeremy Sharp speaks with Dr. Alison Buchholz of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who leads the Adult Epilepsy Neuropsychology Service, co-directs the Johns Hopkins FND Program, and is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society. The discussion covers distinguishing FND from malingering and factitious disorder, interpreting performance validity testing in this population, positive signs across functional seizure, movement, and cognitive presentations, and the practical handling of vague referrals. The latter half addresses diagnostic disclosure as the first therapeutic intervention, working with patients whose resistance stems from prior misdiagnosis, assessing treatment readiness, and building multidisciplinary FND care pathways in both hospital and private practice settings.

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Alison Buchholz

Alison Buchholz, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine with appointments in psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neurology. Dr. Buchholz works as a neuropsychologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, where she leads the adult epilepsy neuropsychology service. She is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Society and founded and co-directs the Johns Hopkins FND program.

Get in touch:

• Email: [email protected]
  Website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology-neurosurgery/specialty-areas/fnd-program

Jeremy Sharp

Dr. Sharp is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that he founded in 2009 and has grown to over 20 clinicians. He earned his undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting his Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, Dr. Sharp specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.

As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Sharp provides private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. He live in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.

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