Exploring how males who encounter phenomena they identify as ‘Conversion Disorder’/’Functional Neurological Disorder’ experience agency in their lives

This research investigates the way that males who identify with the diagnostic label ‘conversion disorder/functional neurological disorder (CD/FND)’ experience agency in their lives. The historical developments, controversies and complexities around ‘CD/FND’ form the backdrop of this exploration into the lived experience of agency. A sample of eight participants were recruited via social networking sites and charities, and the data was collected through Skype-based interviews and analysed using the qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The analysis showed the following five main themes: ‘paradox of control’, ‘living within a dualistic framework’, ‘disconnection from self and others’, ‘engaged in a battle or fight’ and ‘meaning and reality as dependent on other people’. These master themes and their related subordinate themes are presented in light of existing research. The findings highlight the difficulty experienced by participants who identify with a diagnostic label that is at odds with a medicalised approach to understanding and treating illness. The limitations of this study and the potential avenues for future research are also discussed.