Rehabilitation for motor functional neurological disorder: a follow-up study of 185 patients

Abstract

Motor functional neurological disorder (mFND) is a common and disabling condition. There are no evidence-based guidelines for treatment. Long-term outcome is often poor. This study describes the epidemiological profile, symptom pattern and outcome of patients admitted to the Belo Horizonte unit of the SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals from 1997 to 2018 with functional motor symptoms resulting from functional neurological disorder. This retrospective study reviewed data from 185 patients who met inclusion criteria for mFND. Diagnoses were made by multiple professionals in the presence of positive signs and excluding other neurological and systemic conditions. 75.1% were women; 48.3% were receiving social security benefits. The youngest was 3 years old, the oldest 69. 23.8% were in wheelchairs, 77.2% had psychiatric disorders, 69.7% participated in rehabilitation programs and, among them, 70% improved. Participation in rehabilitation is beneficial for patients with mFND. Symptoms lasting for less than 30 days and aged less than 18 years had better outcomes (p<0.001).