{
  "abstract": "Laura Goldstein originally joined the Psychology Department in 1987 at the (then) Institute of Psychiatry, also undertaking clinical work at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. She retired in September 2024.Laura is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and has undertaken internationally recognised research into the neuropsychological and broader psychological consequences of neurological disorders (especially motor neuron disease and epilepsy) and their comorbidities as well as functional neurological disorder.Recently Laura was involved in evaluating psychoeducational and psychological interventions for people with epilepsy and she ran a large NIHR HTA-funded multicentre randomised controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with dissociative (non-epileptic) seizures (the CODES Trial). She has also been involved in NIHR HTA-funded trials studying the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for people with motor neuron disease (the COMMEND trial) and the use of specialist physiotherapy for adults with functional movement disorder (Physio4FMD) as well as supervising neuropsychological studies in motor neuron disease.Previously, alongside her clinical and research activities, Laura played a major role in the post-qualification training of UK clinical neuropsychologists through leading PG Diploma courses at the Institute of Psychiatry over a 16-year period. Together with Jane McNeil, Laura co-edited two editions of ‘Clinical Neuropsychology. A Practical Guide to Assessment and Management for Clinicians’ (2nd edition 2013; Wiley) as well The Clinical Psychologist’s Handbook of Epilepsy: Assessment and Management, Routledge Press (published in 1997) which she co-edited with Christine Cull.Neuropsychologists’ interest and involvement in service delivery for people with FND have both shown a marked increase in recent years. It is the case, however, that current service provision is less advanced than research and clinical developments in the field. Neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists and other psychotherapists will, however, have a range of skills and expertise to offer to this area of clinical specialty. Indeed. recently the British Psychological Society’s Division of Neuropsychology has outlined a range of potential important contributions that neuropsychologists and other psychological practitioners can make to clinical services for people with FND. Other groups, for example in the USA, have also highlighted how neuropsychologists can contribute to work in this area. The current talk will outline not only the range of FND-related settings in which neuropsychologists/other psychologists can work and their potential roles but will focus in particular on the evidence base which now supports the delivery of different models of psychotherapy, both in terms of individual therapy and as part of a multidisciplinary team, for people with FND. It will also highlight the important role that neuropsychologists can play in the neurocognitive assessment and treatment of individuals with FND and in particular functional cognitive disorder. Other roles for psychologists working with people with FND will be highlighted such as psychoeducation, liaison, consultation, education, and dissemination. The talk will conclude with some thoughts as to suitable staffing levels.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Professor Emerita of Clinical Neuropsychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and Honorary Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Maudsley Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Neuropsychiatry Department)"
      ],
      "name": "Laura Goldstein"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The role of psychologists in FND services",
  "uid": "04aeb151-9857-5723-98a7-8a52d7fde52f"
}