Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Sep 9, 2025; 14(3): 105290
Published online Sep 9, 2025. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v14.i3.105290
Unraveling functional neurological disorder in pediatric populations: A systematic review of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Adel Salah Bediwy, Eman A Bediwy, Reem Elbeltagi
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, ‎Governmental Hospitals, Manama 12, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland–Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Alghrabia, Egypt
Adel Salah Bediwy, Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Eman A Bediwy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Algharbia, Egypt
Reem Elbeltagi, Department of Mediciene, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Co-first authors: Mohammed Al-Beltagi and Nermin Kamal Saeed.
Author contributions: Al-Beltagi M conceptualized the study, designed the systematic review framework, and coordinated the manuscript writing and revisions; Saeed NK contributed to the literature search, data extraction, and critical revision of the methodology and discussion; Bediwy AS assisted in analyzing the included studies and refining the results section; Bediwy EA contributed to data synthesis, reference management, and manuscript formatting; Elbeltagi R assisted in reviewing and editing the final draft for clarity and coherence. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this study. No financial, personal, or professional relationships influenced the content or conclusions of this manuscript.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: January 17, 2025
Revised: March 14, 2025
Accepted: April 7, 2025
Published online: September 9, 2025
Processing time: 150 Days and 16.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Functional neurological disorder (FND) in children presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its diverse symptomatology and the absence of organic pathology. Early diagnosis, often hindered by symptom variability, is crucial for effective intervention. Multidisciplinary management, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and comprehensive care involving neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists, has shown promise in improving outcomes. However, there is a need for standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols to better guide clinical practice. This systematic review underscores the importance of timely and coordinated care to enhance the prognosis for pediatric patients with FND.