Pediatric functional neurologic symptoms

[Conversion disorder, caring for body, mind]

Conversion disorder is a psychiatric disorder whose clinic and management lie at the crossroads between body and mind. It challenges healthcare professionals in terms of diagnosis, further investigation, referral and care. A number of questions arise, such as how caregivers perceive the relationship between body and mind, the place of the psychiatric hypothesis among the initial diagnostic hypotheses, and the temporality of care.

Functional Neurological Disorder-Old Problem New Perspective

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a common issue in the pediatric population. The concept and our understanding of functional neurological disorders have changed over the past years, and new etiologic models and treatment plans have been explored. Knowledge about FND in the pediatric population, however, is lacking. The aim of this review is to provide an update on pediatric functional neurological disorder. We conducted a literature search of PubMed and SCOPUS databases and reviewed a total of 85 articles to gain insight into the current understanding of FND etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in children and adolescents. Functional and high resolution MRI revealed abnormal connectivity and structural changes in patients with functional symptoms. The diagnostic criteria no longer require the presence of a psychological factor and instead focus on a rule-in diagnosis. Treatment of FND includes a clear communication of the diagnosis and the support of a multidisciplinary team. Although FND typically has a poor prognosis, better outcomes appear to have been achieved in children and young adults. We conclude that pediatric functional neurological disorder is a prevalent pathology and that this patient population has additional specific needs compared to the adult population.

Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorder: Demographic and Clinical Factors Impacting Care

This is a multicenter retrospective EMR-based chart review of 88 patients aged 3-21 years admitted for evaluation of functional neurologic disorder (FND). We sought to establish characteristics associated with FND, calculate incidence of abnormal neurodiagnostic findings, and determine features associated with variability in workup and treatment. FND patients were 65% female, 40% White, 33% Hispanic, and 88% primarily English speaking with median 13.9 years. We detected variability in management by age, ethnicity, psychiatric comorbidity, and hospital site. Our findings suggest limited utility to CTs in this setting (100% normal) and that workup can be safely informed by physical exam, which predicted abnormal MRI and LP results. We favor screening for adverse childhood experiences in FND patients. Hospitalization may be a rare opportunity for psychiatry contact.

Socio-demographic characteristics and psychopathological assessment in a sample of 13 paediatric patients with functional neurological disorders: A preliminary report

This observational study aims to characterize, from a socio-demographic and psychopathological perspective, a sample of children with Functional Neurological Disorders (FND). Thirteen paediatric patients (below 18 years old) with FND and their parents completed a battery of anamnestic and neuropsychological tests, assessing socio-demographic status, cognitive level, behavioural and emotional issues, depression, anxiety, alexithymic traits and dissociative symptoms. Five patients presented movement disorders (tremor, myoclonus and gait disorder), three patients psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and five patients sensitivity disturbances (pain, anaesthesia and paraesthesia). Cognitive profile was normal in 11 patients; academic performance was good in nine patients, but three had a diagnosis of Specific Learning Difficulty or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Precipitating events occurred in 11 patients. At the self-report questionnaires, mean scores close to the clinical cut off were documented with respect to affective and somatic problems. At the parent-report questionnaires, clinically significant mean scores were observed in the subscales assessing anxious-depressive symptoms and somatic complaints. We speculate that paediatric FND patients, although acknowledging the relevance of somatic symptoms, have difficulties in recognizing internal emotional states (that, instead, are easily recognized by their parents). The case of one FND patient was described. These preliminary data might help identifying different clinical phenotypes of paediatric FND.

Functional Neurological Disorders in Children - A Historical Perspective

The modern diagnosis of functional neurological disorders (FND) describes a diverse set of neurological symptoms without identifiable pathology. The history of FND and its prescientific predecessor, hysteria, is complex and deeply rooted in sexism. Key moments in this history have contributed to the advancement of understanding in functional disorders that neurologists should be aware of. Although pediatric FND has a much less extensive historical literature, there are many parallels between it and the initial interest in hysteria by Charcot and other early modern neurologists. This was followed by waning neurological attention as psychiatrists promoted conversion disorder in the early 1900s. Towards the end of the 20^th century, neurologists have taken a renewed, collaborative role with psychiatry and other disciplines to diagnose and study FND.

Acute Myelopathy in Childhood

Acute myelopathy presenting in childhood can be clinically classified based on the location of injury (with resulting spinal syndrome) or the cause (broadly traumatic or non-traumatic). Types of nontraumatic myelopathy include ischaemic, infectious, inflammatory, nutritional, and metabolic causes, some of which may be part of a systemic illness such as systemic lupus erythematosus or a demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis. Nonaccidental injury is an important consideration in cases of traumatic myelopathy, which may often be associated with other injuries. Assessment should include neuroimaging of the brain and spinal cord, with further investigations targeted based on the most likely differential diagnoses; for example, a child with suspected demyelinating disease may require specialist cerebrospinal fluid and serological testing. Management also will differ based on the cause of the myelopathy, with several of these treatments more efficacious with earlier initiation, necessitating prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of children presenting with symptoms of a myelopathy. Important components of holistic care may include physiotherapy and occupational therapy, with multidisciplinary team involvement as required (for example psychological support or specialist bowel and bladder teams).

Management of Neurological Emergencies in Children: An Updated Overview

Neurological emergencies account for about one-third of the highest severity codes attributed in emergency pediatric departments. About 75% of children with acute neurological symptoms presents with seizures, headache, or other paroxysmal events. Life-threatening conditions involve a minor proportion of patients (e.g., less than 15% of children with headache and less than 5% of children with febrile seizures). This review highlights updated insights about clinical features, diagnostic workup, and therapeutic management of pediatric neurological emergencies. Particularly, details will be provided about the most recent insights about headache, febrile seizures, status epilepticus, altered levels of consciousness, acute motor impairment, acute movement disorders, and functional disorders, as well as the role of diagnostic tools (e.g., neuroimaging, lumbar puncture, and electroencephalography), in the emergency setting. Moreover, the impact of the current novel coronavirus disease2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the evaluation of pediatric neurologic emergencies will also be analyzed.

Assessment of Emergency Department and Inpatient Use and Costs in Adult and Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorders

Importance

There is limited information about health care use and costs in patients with functional neurological disorders (FNDs).

Objective

To assess US emergency department (ED) and inpatient use and charges for FNDs.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This economic evaluation used Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data to assess all-payer (1) adult (age, ≥18 years) hospitalizations (2008-2017), (2) pediatric (age, 5-17 years) hospitalizations (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016), and (3) adult and pediatric ED evaluations (2008-2017). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 300.11 (conversion disorder) or 306.0 (musculoskeletal malfunction arising from mental factors) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for conversion disorder/functional neurological symptom disorder (F44.4 to F44.7) were used to conservatively define FNDs and to compare them with other neurological disorders that are associated with high levels of health care use. Analysis was performed between January 2019 and July 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Admission traits (eg, demographic characteristics of patients, length of stay, and discharge disposition) and hospital charges.

Results

Compared with other neurological disorders in 2017, emergency FND evaluations of 36 359 adults (25 807 women [71.0%] and 3800 children (2733 girls [71.9%]) more frequently resulted in inpatient admissions (22 895 adult admissions [69.2% female] and 1264 pediatric admissions [73.4% ]). These FND admissions had a shorter mean (SEM) hospital length of stay (5.21 [0.15] days vs 6.03 [0.03] days, P < .001) but higher workup rates than admissions for comparable neurological diagnoses. Admissions for FNDs had low rates of inpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, and psychiatric consultation. The total annual costs (a proxy for total costs in 2017 US dollars) were $1066 million (95% CI, $971-$1160 million) for adult FND inpatient charges in 2017 compared with $1241 million (95% CI, $1132-$1351 million) for anterior horn cell disease; $75 million (95% CI, $57-$92 million) for pediatric FND inpatient charges in 2012 compared with $86 million (95% CI, $63-$108 million) for demyelinating diseases; and $163 million (95% CI, $144-$182 million) for adult and pediatric ED visits in 2017 compared with $135 million (95% CI $111-$159 million) for refractory epilepsy. Total charges per admission for ED care of FNDs were higher than the other comparison groups in adults. Total costs and costs per admission for FNDs increased from 2008 to 2017 at a higher rate than that of other neurological disorders.

Conclusions and Relevance

This economic evaluation found that the more than $1.2 billion and increasing annual costs for ED and inpatient care of FNDs were similar to other investigation-intensive and pharmacologically demanding neurological disorders. Unnecessary investigations and iatrogenic harm inflate costs at the expense of necessary but neglected psychiatric and rehabilitative treatments.

Functional Movement Disorders in Children

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are not uncommon in children. The age at onset may have a bearing on the phenomenological pattern of abnormal movement, risk factors, and response to different treatment modalities in this age group. FMDs in children resemble their adult counterparts in terms of gender preponderance, but risk factors are quite different, and often influenced by cultural and demographic background. FMDs contribute to a significant proportion of acute pediatric movement disorder patients seen in emergency settings, ranging from 4.3 to 23% in different case series. The most common movement phenomenologies observed in pediatric FMDs patients are tremor, dystonia, gait disturbances, and functional tics. Various social, physical, and familial precipitating factors have been described. Common social risk factors include divorce of parents, sexual abuse, bullying at school, examination pressure, or other education-related issues, death of a close friend, relative, or family members. Physical trauma like minor head injury, immunization, tooth extraction, and tonsillectomy are also known to precipitate FMDs. The response to treatment appears to be better among pediatric patients. We aim to review FMDs in children to better understand the different aspects of their frequency, clinical features, precipitating factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

Upper extremity conversion disorder in children

BACKGROUND

Conversion disorder in children presents a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. The condition is frequently associated with unnecessary diagnostic tests, treatments, and cost. The purpose of this study was to report a series of children with upper extremity conversion disorder to raise awareness for this uncommon condition and to assist with its diagnosis and management.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of 4 pediatric patients with upper extremity conversion disorder at a tertiary pediatric hospital from 2015 to 2017. Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, including psychiatric history, clinical findings, diagnostic studies, treatment, and cost of care.

RESULTS

Patients presented with upper extremity muscle stiffness, unremitting dysmorphic muscle spasms, weakness, pain, very limited shoulder range of motion, and complaints of recurrent shoulder dislocations. All patients had been evaluated by multiple specialists and had an extensive prior diagnostic workup that was inconclusive. Two patients had a history of prior psychiatric illness and suicidal ideation, and all patients expressed despair and depression. All patients had normal physical examination findings under anesthesia. Two patients with muscle stiffness were treated with botulism injections and improved their shoulder range of motion. The average total charge for care since presentation was $42,729.

CONCLUSIONS

Conversion disorder should be considered in patients with an extensive prior diagnostic workup, deficits inconsistent with anatomic patterns or imaging findings, and a history of prior psychiatric illness. Examination under anesthesia is a successful diagnostic approach in children with suspected conversion disorder.