Which are two common functional neurological symptom presentations?

• A. Functional weakness/paralysis and non-epileptic seizures.
• B. Migraines and tension-type headaches.
• C. Gait disturbances due to orthopedic injury.
• D. Epilepsy with clear EEG abnormalities.

Answer: (A)

Two common functional neurological symptom presentations are functional weakness or paralysis and non-epileptic seizures. Functional weakness or paralysis refers to a motor deficit that cannot be explained by a structural nerve pathway or brain lesion. Signs may be inconsistent with known neuroanatomy, show variability, or disappear with distraction, which helps clinicians recognize a functional pattern rather than a true neurological injury. Non-epileptic seizures are events that look like seizures but do not have the EEG and electrophysiological features of epilepsy; they often relate to psychological factors or distress and avoid typical ictal abnormalities.

Other options describe conditions that are organic or unrelated to functional neurological symptoms: migraines and tension-type headaches are primary headache disorders, gait disturbances caused by orthopedic injury imply a structural problem, and epilepsy with clear EEG abnormalities is an organic seizure disorder.