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Steinruecke M, Mason I, Keen M, McWhirter L, Carson AJ, Stone J, Hoeritzauer I. Pain and functional neurological disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024:jnnp-2023-332810. [PMID: 38383157 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-332810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional neurological disorder (FND) is characterised by neurological symptoms, such as seizures and abnormal movements. Despite its significance to patients, the clinical features of chronic pain in people with FND, and of FND in people with chronic pain, have not been comprehensively studied. METHODS We systematically reviewed PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO for studies of chronic pain in adults with FND and FND in patients with chronic pain. We described the proportions of patients reporting pain, pain rating and timing, pain-related diagnoses and responsiveness to treatment. We performed random effects meta-analyses of the proportions of patients with FND who reported pain or were diagnosed with pain-related disorders. RESULTS Seven hundred and fifteen articles were screened and 64 were included in the analysis. Eight case-control studies of 3476 patients described pain symptoms in a higher proportion of patients with FND than controls with other neurological disorders. A random effects model of 30 cohorts found that an estimated 55% (95% CI 46% to 64%) of 4272 patients with FND reported pain. Random effects models estimated diagnoses of complex regional pain syndrome in 22% (95% CI 6% to 39%) of patients, irritable bowel syndrome in 16% (95% CI 9% to 24%) and fibromyalgia in 10% (95% CI 8% to 13%). Five studies of FND diagnoses among 361 patients with chronic pain were identified. Most interventions for FND did not ameliorate pain, even when other symptoms improved. CONCLUSIONS Pain symptoms and pain-related diagnoses are common in FND. Classification systems and treatments should routinely consider pain as a comorbidity in patients with FND.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Mason
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mairi Keen
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Laura McWhirter
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan J Carson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jon Stone
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ingrid Hoeritzauer
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Conversion and dissociative disorders are conditions where people experience unusual neurological symptoms or changes in awareness or identity. However, symptoms and clinical signs cannot be explained by a neurological disease or other medical condition. Instead, a psychological stressor or trauma is often present. The symptoms are real and can cause significant distress or problems with functioning in everyday life for the people experiencing them. OBJECTIVES To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of psychosocial interventions of conversion and dissociative disorders in adults. SEARCH METHODS We conducted database searches between 16 July and 16 August 2019. We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, and eight other databases, together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included all randomised controlled trials that compared psychosocial interventions for conversion and dissociative disorders with standard care, wait list or other interventions (pharmaceutical, somatic or psychosocial). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We selected, quality assessed and extracted data from the identified studies. Two review authors independently performed all tasks. We used standard Cochrane methodology. For continuous data, we calculated mean differences (MD) and standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). For dichotomous outcomes, we calculated risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI. We assessed and downgraded the evidence according to the GRADE system for risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness, inconsistency and publication bias. MAIN RESULTS We included 17 studies (16 with parallel-group designs and one with a cross-over design), with 894 participants aged 18 to 80 years (female:male ratio 3:1). The data were separated into 12 comparisons based on the different interventions and comparators. Studies were pooled into the same comparison when identical interventions and comparisons were evaluated. The certainty of the evidence was downgraded as a consequence of potential risk of bias, as many of the studies had unclear or inadequate allocation concealment. Further downgrading was performed due to imprecision, few participants and inconsistency. There were 12 comparisons for the primary outcome of reduction in physical signs. Inpatient paradoxical intention therapy compared with outpatient diazepam: inpatient paradoxical intention therapy did not reduce conversive symptoms compared with outpatient diazepam at the end of treatment (RR 1.44, 95% CI 0.91 to 2.28; 1 study, 30 participants; P = 0.12; very low-quality evidence). Inpatient treatment programme plus hypnosis compared with inpatient treatment programme: inpatient treatment programme plus hypnosis did not reduce severity of impairment compared with inpatient treatment programme at the end of treatment (MD -0.49 (negative value better), 95% CI -1.28 to 0.30; 1 study, 45 participants; P = 0.23; very low-quality evidence). Outpatient hypnosis compared with wait list: outpatient hypnosis might reduce severity of impairment compared with wait list at the end of treatment (MD 2.10 (higher value better), 95% CI 1.34 to 2.86; 1 study, 49 participants; P < 0.00001; low-quality evidence). Behavioural therapy plus routine clinical care compared with routine clinical care: behavioural therapy plus routine clinical care might reduce the number of weekly seizures compared with routine clinical care alone at the end of treatment (MD -21.40 (negative value better), 95% CI -27.88 to -14.92; 1 study, 18 participants; P < 0.00001; very low-quality evidence). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) compared with standard medical care: CBT did not reduce monthly seizure frequency compared to standard medical care at end of treatment (RR 1.56, 95% CI 0.39 to 6.19; 1 study, 16 participants; P = 0.53; very low-quality evidence). CBT did not reduce physical signs compared to standard medical care at the end of treatment (MD -4.75 (negative value better), 95% CI -18.73 to 9.23; 1 study, 61 participants; P = 0.51; low-quality evidence). CBT did not reduce seizure freedom compared to standard medical care at end of treatment (RR 2.33, 95% CI 0.30 to 17.88; 1 trial, 16 participants; P = 0.41; very low-quality evidence). Psychoeducational follow-up programmes compared with treatment as usual (TAU): no study measured reduction in physical signs at end of treatment. Specialised CBT-based physiotherapy inpatient programme compared with wait list: no study measured reduction in physical signs at end of treatment. Specialised CBT-based physiotherapy outpatient intervention compared with TAU: no study measured reduction in physical signs at end of treatment. Brief psychotherapeutic intervention (psychodynamic interpersonal treatment approach) compared with standard care: brief psychotherapeutic interventions did not reduce conversion symptoms compared to standard care at end of treatment (RR 0.12, 95% CI 0.01 to 2.00; 1 study, 19 participants; P = 0.14; very low-quality evidence). CBT plus adjunctive physical activity (APA) compared with CBT alone: CBT plus APA did not reduce overall physical impacts compared to CBT alone at end of treatment (MD 5.60 (negative value better), 95% CI -15.48 to 26.68; 1 study, 21 participants; P = 0.60; very low-quality evidence). Hypnosis compared to diazepam: hypnosis did not reduce symptoms compared to diazepam at end of treatment (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.24; 1 study, 40 participants; P = 0.22; very low-quality evidence). Outpatient motivational interviewing (MI) and mindfulness-based psychotherapy compared with psychotherapy alone: psychotherapy preceded by MI might decrease seizure frequency compared with psychotherapy alone at end of treatment (MD 41.40 (negative value better), 95% CI 4.92 to 77.88; 1 study, 54 participants; P = 0.03; very low-quality evidence). The effect on the secondary outcomes was reported in 16/17 studies. None of the studies reported results on adverse effects. In the studies reporting on level of functioning and quality of life at end of treatment the effects ranged from small to no effect. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The results of the meta-analysis and reporting of single studies suggest there is lack of evidence regarding the effects of any psychosocial intervention on conversion and dissociative disorders in adults. It is not possible to draw any conclusions about potential benefits or harms from the included studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Ganslev
- Clinic of Liaison Psychiatry, Region Zealand, Denmark
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry of Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Ole Jakob Storebø
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry of Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Department, Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ulf Søgaard
- Clinic of Liaison Psychiatry, Region Zealand, Denmark
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatry of Region Zealand, Slagelse, Denmark
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Vermeulen M, de Haan RJ. Favourable outcome without psychotherapy in patients with functional neurologic disorder. J Clin Neurosci 2020; 71:141-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.08.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Dreissen YEM, Dijk JM, Gelauff JM, Zoons E, van Poppelen D, Contarino MF, Zutt R, Post B, Munts AG, Speelman JD, Cath DC, de Haan RJ, Koelman JH, Tijssen MAJ. Botulinum neurotoxin treatment in jerky and tremulous functional movement disorders: a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial with an open-label extension. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019; 90:1244-1250. [PMID: 31221722 PMCID: PMC6860905 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-320071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the effect of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) treatment in jerky and tremulous functional movement disorders (FMD). METHODS Patients with invalidating, chronic (>1 year) symptoms were randomly assigned to two subsequent treatments with BoNT or placebo every 3 months with stratification according to symptom localisation. Improvement on the dichotomised Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale (CGI-I) (improvement vs no change or worsening) at 4 months, assessed by investigators blinded to the allocated treatment was the primary outcome. Subsequently all patients were treated with BoNT in a ten month open-label phase. RESULTS Between January 2011 and February 2015 a total of 239 patients were screened for eligibility of whom 48 patients were included. No difference was found on the primary outcome (BoNT 16 of 25 (64.0%) vs Placebo 13 of 23 patients (56.5%); proportional difference 0.075 (95% CI -0.189 to 0.327; p=0.77). Secondary outcomes (symptom severity, disease burden, disability, quality of life and psychiatric symptoms) showed no between-group differences. The open-label phase showed improvement on the CGI-I in 19/43 (44.2%) of remaining patients, with a total of 35/43 (81.4%) improvement compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS In this double-blind randomised controlled trial of BoNT for chronic jerky and tremulous FMD, we found no evidence of improved outcomes compared with placebo. Motor symptoms improved in a large proportion in both groups which was sustained in the open-label phase. This study underlines the substantial potential of chronic jerky and tremulous FMD patients to recover and may stimulate further exploration of placebo-therapies in these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NTR2478.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Emma Maria Dreissen
- Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joke M Dijk
- Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Evelien Zoons
- Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniël van Poppelen
- Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Fiorella Contarino
- Neurology, Haga Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Neurology, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rodi Zutt
- Neurology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Neurology, Haga teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Post
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes D Speelman
- Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle C Cath
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Altrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rob J de Haan
- Clinical Research Unit, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Htm Koelman
- Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marina A J Tijssen
- Neurology, Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Perez DL, Williams B, Matin N, LaFrance WC, Costumero-Ramos V, Fricchione GL, Sepulcre J, Keshavan MS, Dickerson BC. Corticolimbic structural alterations linked to health status and trait anxiety in functional neurological disorder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017; 88:1052-1059. [PMID: 28844071 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Affective symptoms influence health status (health-related quality of life) in functional neurological disorder (FND), and the salience network is implicated in the pathophysiology of FND and mood/anxiety disorders. We hypothesised that self-reported health status and affective symptoms would map onto salience network regions and that patients with FND would show decreased insular volumes compared with controls. METHODS This voxel-based morphometry study investigated volumetric differences in 26 patients with FND (21 women, 5 men; mean age=40.3±11.5) compared with 27 healthy controls (22 women, 5 men; mean age=40.5±10.8). Post hoc analyses stratified patients with FND by mental and physical health scores (Short Form Health Survey-36). Within-group analyses investigated associations with mental health, physical health, trait anxiety and depression in patients with FND. RESULTS There were no volumetric differences between the complete FND cohort and controls. In stratified analyses, however, patients with FND reporting the most severe physical health impairments showed reduced left anterior insular volume compared with controls. In within-group analyses, impaired mental health and elevated trait anxiety were associated with increased right amygdalar volumes in patients with FND. The relationship between amygdalar volume and mental health, driven by emotional well-being deficits and role limitations due to emotional problems, was independent of sensorimotor functional neurological symptom severity and motor FND subtype. In secondary within-group analyses, increased periaqueductal grey volume was associated with role limitations due to emotional problems. Impaired physical functioning correlated with decreased left anterior insular volumes. CONCLUSIONS These findings support roles for several regions of the salience network in the pathophysiology of FND.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Perez
- Department of Neurology, Functional Neurology Research Group, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin Williams
- Department of Neurology, Functional Neurology Research Group, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nassim Matin
- Department of Neurology, Functional Neurology Research Group, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - W Curt LaFrance
- Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology Division, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Victor Costumero-Ramos
- Department of Methodology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Gregory L Fricchione
- Department of Psychiatry, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jorge Sepulcre
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matcheri S Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bradford C Dickerson
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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