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Varley D, Sweetman J, Brabyn S, Lagos D, van der Feltz-Cornelis C. The clinical management of functional neurological disorder: A scoping review of the literature. J Psychosom Res 2023; 165:111121. [PMID: 36549074 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To date, there have been no reviews bringing together evidence on the clinical management of functional neurological disorder (FND) and patients', caregivers', and healthcare workers' experiences. This review provides an overview of the literature focused on the clinical management of FND. METHODS Four databases were searched, and a consultation exercise was conducted to retrieve relevant records dated from September 2010 to September 2020. Articles documenting diagnostic methods, treatments or interventions, or the experiences and perspectives of patients and healthcare workers in the clinical management of FND were included. RESULTS In total, 2756 records were retrieved, with 162 included in this review. The diagnostic methods reported predominantly included positive clinical signs, v-EEG and EEG. Psychological treatments and medication were the most reported treatments. Mixed findings of the effectiveness of CBT were found. Haloperidol, physiotherapy and scripted diagnosis were found to be effective in reducing FND symptoms. Several facilitators and barriers for patients accessing treatment for FND were reported. CONCLUSION The literature describing the clinical management for FND has increased considerably in recent times. A wide variety of diagnostic tools and treatments and interventions were found, with more focus being placed on tests that confirm a diagnosis than 'rule-out' tests. The main treatment type found in this review was medication. This review revealed that there is a lack of high-quality evidence and reflects the need for official clinical guidelines for FND, providing healthcare workers and patients the support needed to navigate the process to diagnose and manage FND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Varley
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Jennifer Sweetman
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Sally Brabyn
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Dimitris Lagos
- Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Christina van der Feltz-Cornelis
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London NW1 2DA, UK
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Bonnan M. Transcranial and muscular single-pulse magnetic stimulation is efficient on motor functional neurological disorders by the feedback of induced muscle contractions - A retrospective case series. Clin Park Relat Disord 2021; 5:100112. [PMID: 34746742 PMCID: PMC8554265 DOI: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2021.100112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Motor functional neurological disorders (mFNDs) are improved by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which is thought to involve cortical modulation. We examined the outcome of a rapid TMS procedure. Methods Single-center retrospective case series including 41 consecutive patients suffering from mFNDs and receiving a combination of motor-evoked potentials (MEP), TMS and/or muscle stimulation. Results MEP and additional TMS were administered in 35 patients, sometimes with rescue by muscle stimulation. Magnetic muscle stimulation was given in 6 patients, sometimes with rescue by TMS. Complete immediate recovery was obtained in 65.9 % of the 41 patients, but the outcome of mFNDs after one year was poor. Treatment by TMS (n = 19) or by muscle stimulation (n = 4) given alone were associated with 78.9 % and 75 % of complete immediate recovery, respectively. Conclusions A rapid easy-to-perform TMS procedure obtained a high rate of immediate complete recovery in mFND. Clinical recovery was improved but was also obtained by direct magnetic stimulation of the paralyzed muscles. Significance TMS-induced recovery of mFND may not involve cortical modulation but could rather occur through reinforcement of the suggestion. Magnetic-induced muscle twitches may facilitate the self-expectation of motor recovery and could unlock the motor symptoms of mFND.
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Gonsalvez I, Spagnolo P, Dworetzky B, Baslet G. Neurostimulation for the treatment of functional neurological disorder: A systematic review. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 16:100501. [PMID: 34950864 PMCID: PMC8671519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2021.100501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), also known as conversion disorder, is characterized by neurological symptoms that are incompatible with any known structural disorder and best explained by a biopsychosocial model. Evidence-based treatments for FND are limited, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and physiotherapy being the most effective interventions [1]. In recent years, functional neuroimaging studies have provided robust evidence of alterations in activity and connectivity in multiple brain networks in FND. This body of evidence suggests that neurocircuitry-based interventions, such as non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS), may also represent an effective therapeutic option for patients with FND. In this systematic review, we outline the current state of knowledge of NIBS in FND, and discuss limitations and future directions that may help establish the efficacy of NIBS as a therapeutic option for FND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gonsalvez
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Primavera Spagnolo
- Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women's Health & Gender Biology, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Barbara Dworetzky
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gaston Baslet
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Portaro S, Milardi D, Naro A, Chillura A, Corallo F, Quartarone A, Calabrò RS. Chasing the Chameleon: Psychogenic Paraparesis Responding to Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation. Psychiatry Investig 2018; 15:428-431. [PMID: 29593207 PMCID: PMC5912486 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2017.10.16.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurologic symptoms that develop unconsciously and are incompatible with known pathophysiologic mechanisms or anatomic pathways belong to Conversion Disorder (CD). CD diagnosis is based on the clinical history and the exclusion of physical disorders causing significant distress or social and occupational impairment. In a subgroup of CD, called functional weakness (FW), symptoms affecting limbs may be persistent, thus causing a permanent or transient loss of limb function. Physiotherapy, pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been proposed as treatment strategies for FW-CD. Herein, we report a 30 year-old male, presenting with lower limb functional paraparesis, having obtained positive, objectively, and stable effects from a prolonged r-TMS protocol associated to a multidisciplinary approach, including psychological and sexuological counseling, and monitored by gait analysis. We postulate that our rTMS protocol, combined with a multidisciplinary approach may be the proper treatment strategy to improve FW-CD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Demetrio Milardi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.,Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Angelo Quartarone
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.,Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Lefaucheur JP, Lepping P, Liepert J, Connemann BJ, Sartorius A, Nowak DA, Gahr M. Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in Conversion (Functional) Weakness and Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Future Perspectives. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:140. [PMID: 27065796 PMCID: PMC4815435 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Conversion (functional) limb weakness or paralysis (FW) can be a debilitating condition, and often causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Most treatment concepts are multi-disciplinary, containing a behavioral approach combined with a motor learning program. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) methods, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been used in the past few decades to treat FW. In order to identify all published studies that used NIBS methods such as ECT, TMS and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating FW patients a systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science. In a second step, narratives were used to retrospectively determine nominal CGI-I (Clinical Global Impression scale–Improvement) scores to describe approximate changes of FW symptoms. We identified two articles (case reports) with ECT used for treatment of FW, five with TMS with a total of 86 patients, and none with tDCS. In 75 out of 86 patients treated with repetitive (r)TMS a nominal CGI-I score could be estimated, showing a satisfactory short-term improvement. Fifty-four out of seventy-five identified patients (72%) had a CGI-I score of 1 (very much improved), 13 (17%) a score of 2 (much improved), 5 (7%) a score of 3 (minimally improved), and 3 (5%) remained unchanged (CGI-I = 4). In no case did patients worsen after rTMS treatment, and no severe adverse effects were reported. At follow-up, symptom improvement was not quantifiable in terms of CGI-I for the majority of the cases. Patients treated with ECT showed a satisfactory short-term response (CGI-I = 2), but deterioration of FW symptoms at follow-up. Despite the predominantly positive results presented in the identified studies and satisfactory levels of efficacy measured with retrospectively calculated nominal CGI-I scores, any assumption of a beneficial effect of NIBS in FW has to be seen with caution, as only few articles could be retrieved and their quality was mostly poor. This article elucidates how NIBS might help in FW and gives recommendations for future study designs using NIBS in this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
- Department of Physiology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de ParisCréteil, France; EA 4391, Nerve Excitability and Therapeutic Team, Faculty of Medicine, Paris Est Créteil UniversityCréteil, France
| | - Peter Lepping
- Department of Psychiatry, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health BoardWrexham, UK; Centre for Mental Health and Society, Bangor UniversityWrexham, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Mysore Medical College and Research InstituteMysore, India
| | - Joachim Liepert
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Kliniken Schmieder Allensbach, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Sartorius
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dennis A Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Helios-Klinik KipfenbergKipfenberg, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital MarburgMarburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Gahr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm Ulm, Germany
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Roche N, Raynaud L, Bompaire F, Lucas JJ, Auxéméry Y. Asystolie perstimulus résultant d’une hypertonie parasympathique au cours des électroconvulsivothérapies : cas clinique, brève revue de la littérature et discussion. Encephale 2016; 42:59-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Régny P, Cathébras P. [Conversion disorder in an internal medicine department: A series of 37 cases]. Encephale 2016; 42:150-5. [PMID: 26827119 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical characteristics of a series of patients presenting conversion disorder in a general internal medicine ward and outpatient clinic, the arguments retained by the physicians in favour of the diagnosis, the somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities, the management and the outcome of the disorder. METHODS We report the study of 37 patients diagnosed with conversion disorder in an internal medicine department of a French university hospital over a period of 14 years. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of the patients and contacted their primary care physicians to obtain follow-up data. No structured instrument was used for the diagnosis of conversion disorder or for the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities. RESULTS As expected, patients were mostly young females, although a great variety of age, gender, and socio-cultural background was observed. Motor symptoms predominated (62%). A relevant psychogenic factor was explicitly mentioned in only 43% of the cases. In many cases, organic disease was also present, and an organic cause for the symptom initially considered as conversion was suspected in 3 cases. Depressive and anxious disorders were present respectively in 38% and 35% of cases. A pain complaint was associated in half of the cases. Among patients for whom follow-up data is available, conversion symptoms persisted or recurred in 70% of cases and were associated with a poor quality of life. CONCLUSION This case series confirms that the DSM-IV-TR criterion of "psychogenicity" (later abandoned in DSM-5) is highly problematic in clinical practice. It suggests a close relationship between conversion disorder and unexplained chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Régny
- Service de médecine interne, hôpital Nord, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42055 Saint-Étienne cedex 2, France
| | - P Cathébras
- Service de médecine interne, hôpital Nord, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42055 Saint-Étienne cedex 2, France.
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Chouaib N, Chouaib H, Belyamani L, Otheman Y, Bichra M. Le pseudo-coma hystérique : à propos d’un cas clinique. Encephale 2015; 41:370-2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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