Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40722345›Full record

ReviewBrain sciences2025

Post-Concussion Syndrome and Functional Neurological Disorder: Diagnostic Interfaces, Risk Mechanisms, and the Functional Overlay Model.

Ioannis Mavroudis, Foivos Petridis, Eleni Karantali, Alin Ciobica, Sotirios Papagiannopoulos, Dimitrios Kazis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ioannis MavroudisDepartment of Neuroscience, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
Foivos PetridisSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-5617-0346
Eleni KarantaliDepartment of Neurology, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-1941-0432
Alin CiobicaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Carol I Avenue 20th A, 700505 Iasi, Romania.
Sotirios PapagiannopoulosThird Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dimitrios KazisThird Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-7319-2045

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPost-concussion syndrome (PCS) and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), including Functional Cognitive Disorder (FCD), are two frequently encountered but diagnostically complex conditions. While PCS is conceptualized as a sequela of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), FND/FCD encompasses symptoms incompatible with recognized neurological disease, often arising in the absence of structural brain damage. Yet, both conditions exhibit considerable clinical overlap-particularly in the domains of cognitive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, and symptom persistence despite negative investigations.

objectiveThis review critically examines the shared and divergent features of PCS and FND/FCD. We explore their respective epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors-including personality traits and trauma exposure-as well as emerging insights from neuroimaging and biomarkers. We propose the "Functional Overlay Model" as a clinical tool for navigating diagnostic ambiguity in patients with persistent post-injury symptoms.

resultsPCS and FND/FCD frequently share features such as subjective cognitive complaints, fatigue, anxiety, and heightened somatic vigilance. High neuroticism, maladaptive coping, prior psychiatric history, and trauma exposure emerge as common risk factors. Neuroimaging studies show persistent network dysfunction in both PCS and FND, with overlapping disruption in fronto-limbic and default mode systems. The Functional Overlay Model helps to identify cases where functional symptomatology coexists with or replaces an initial organic insult-particularly in patients with incongruent symptoms and normal objective testing.

conclusionsPCS and FND/FCD should be conceptualized along a continuum of brain dysfunction, shaped by injury, psychology, and contextual factors. Early recognition of functional overlays and stratified psychological interventions may improve outcomes for patients with persistent, medically unexplained symptoms after head trauma. This review introduces the Functional Overlay Model as a novel framework to enhance diagnostic clarity and therapeutic planning in patients presenting with persistent post-injury symptoms.

Indexed as

cognitive symptomsdiagnostic criteriaFunctional Cognitive DisorderFunctional Neurological Disorderfunctional overlaymTBIneuroimagingneuroticismpersonality traitspost-concussion syndromerisk factorstrauma

Identifiers

PMID40722345
PMCPMC12293530

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.