What is the typical gender distribution for FND and SSD?

• A. Higher in females; though can occur in males.
• B. Evenly distributed across genders.
• C. Higher in males.
• D. Occurs only in females.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that both functional neurological disorder (FND) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) show a clear female predominance in typical clinical samples and research, though they can occur in men. In FND, most studies find a higher proportion of women—often roughly two-thirds to four-fifths of cases—while men are present but less common. For SSD, the pattern is similar, with women affected more frequently, commonly around a 2:1 female-to-male ratio, though exact figures vary by study and population. The higher female distribution likely reflects a mix of sociocultural factors, patterns of help-seeking, and potential reporting biases rather than a simple biological rule. So, the statement that these disorders are higher in females, though they can occur in males, best matches the typical distribution. The other options—equal distribution, higher in males, or occurring only in females—do not fit the common evidence.