The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) startup, ReACT FND Health, is expanding access to specialized telehealth care for functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition often misunderstood and characterized by involuntary symptoms such as functional seizures, movement difficulties, and speech problems. The disorder can lead to years of disability and repeated emergency care before patients receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
FND affects brain-body communication, disrupting the brain’s ability to send clear signals to muscles and other bodily functions. Symptoms can vary widely, mimicking other neurological conditions, which often contributes to diagnostic delays. Effective treatment is crucial, as the condition can significantly impact quality of life.
Since its launch in 2024, supported by the Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, ReACT FND Health has treated 155 patients from 30 states, delivering over 900 treatment sessions utilizing Retraining and Control Therapy® (ReACT). More than 40 patients have completed the treatment program.
Retraining and Control Therapy: A Skill-Based Approach
ReACT, developed by Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., professor in the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology at UAB, focuses on empowering patients to regain control over their bodies. “Through ReACT, patients learn concrete, skill-based strategies to prevent symptoms from occurring or stop them once they begin,” explains Dr. Fobian, and founder of ReACT FND Health. “This approach helps patients regain a sense of control over their bodies, resulting in meaningful reductions in the frequency and severity of symptoms.”
The therapy utilizes principles of habit reversal and other evidence-based techniques to retrain the involuntary, reflexive functional symptoms. Unlike treatments that focus solely on symptom suppression, ReACT aims to address the underlying neurological mechanisms contributing to the disorder.
Expanding Access Through Telehealth and Technology
ReACT FND Health provides direct-to-patient telehealth treatment, removing geographical barriers to specialized FND care. Initially, services were offered within states participating in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, an agreement allowing licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology across state lines. However, the startup has recently expanded its reach to include New York and California, two large states not currently part of the PSYPACT compact, addressing a critical gap in access to research-supported FND treatment.
To further enhance treatment delivery and patient engagement, ReACT FND Health launched a new patient portal in 2025, incorporating the ReACT Precision Treatment Tool®. This innovative digital platform assists psychologists in tailoring ReACT to each patient’s specific symptoms. Patients can securely access training materials, practice exercises between sessions, and track their progress over time. This between-session practice is a key component of the therapy, helping patients develop and reinforce skills more effectively.
Growing Demand and International Expansion
The demand for ReACT training is steadily increasing, with over 500 providers across 17 countries currently on the waitlist. This reflects a growing recognition of the effectiveness of ReACT and a desire among healthcare professionals to offer this specialized treatment to their patients.
In April 2025, ReACT FND Health marked a significant milestone by conducting its first international training program in Iceland, certifying six psychologists. “For Iceland’s centralized health care system, the training helped lay the groundwork for national-scale implementation of research-supported FND treatment,” Dr. Fobian noted. The startup plans to continue expanding ReACT training opportunities both domestically and internationally in 2026 and beyond, furthering its mission to make evidence-based FND care accessible to individuals worldwide.
The development of ReACT FND Health stems from research initiated at UAB in 2018, with an interdisciplinary treatment program for FND. In 2020, Dr. Fobian published the results of a 29-participant trial of ReACT, which was the first randomized controlled trial of any treatment for pediatric functional seizures, demonstrating significant improvements in symptoms.
Functional neurological disorder affects an estimated 300,000 Americans, and the increasing availability of specialized, evidence-based treatment options like ReACT offers hope for improved outcomes and a better quality of life for those living with this challenging condition.
