Presenter: Dr. David Perez

Topic: Building a Clinical and Research Program in Functional Neurological Disorders: Lessons Learned

Biography:

David L. Perez M.D., M.M.Sc. is the faculty member in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Perez is the director of the MGH Functional Neurology Research Group, which is dedicated to the comprehensive clinical and neurobiological investigation of motor Functional Neurological Disorders. The laboratory uses neuropsychiatric assessments and advanced structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate clinical and biological markers of symptom severity, disease-risk, and prognosis across individuals with Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures, Functional Movement Disorders and Functional Limb Weakness. Dr. Perez is also the founding director of the Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic based within the  Cognitive Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Units at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In the MGH FND Clinic, Dr. Perez provides integrated neurologic and psychiatric consultations for patients experiencing motor Functional Neurological Disorders. The clinic closely collaborates with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, neuropsychologists, and psychotherapists.