funktionsgestörte

Funktionsgestörte is a German term used in medical and social language to refer to individuals who experience functional impairments—disturbances of bodily or cognitive functions that may not be attributable to a clearly identifiable structural disease. In clinical usage, related terms describe disturbances of function where no structural lesion is found or where symptoms are best explained by functional rather than anatomical factors. Functional disorders can affect various organ systems, including the nervous system (functional neurological disorders such as non-epileptic seizures or weakness without nerve injury), the gastrointestinal tract (functional GI disorders), and chronic pain syndromes.

Language and ethics: the label Funktionsgestörte can carry stigma if used to define a person by impairment rather than as a whole person. Many professional circles prefer more precise, person-centered language, such as “Personen mit Funktionsbeeinträchtigungen” or, in disability discourse, “Menschen mit Behinderungen,” depending on context and self-identification. Clinicians emphasize that symptoms are real and disabling, even when a structural cause is not found, and they advocate explicit description of symptoms, duration, and functional impact.

Context and usage: the term mainly appears in medical, psychosomatic, or sociomedical discussions, as well as legal or policy documents describing disability or health impairment. It is less common in everyday language today, where more specific diagnoses or person-first language are favored.