Self-Perceived non-motor aspects of cervical dystonia and their association with disability

To examine the multivariate association between a model of self-perceived non-motor aspects and disability in cervical dystonia.

A prospective and correlational design with two points of assessment.

All 273 members with cervical dystonia from the Swedish Dystonia Patient Association were invited to participate.

Data were collected with one self-reported questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent by post on two separate occasions. Disability was the primary outcome variable measured by the Functional Disability Questionnaire.

The questionnaire was completed by 180 individuals (66%) on both occasions. The multivariate association between the non-motor model and disability was statistically significant (adjusted R2 0.46, F(7, 149) = 19.76, p = 0.001). This indicated that 46% of the variance in disability was explained by the non-motor model. Self-efficacy appeared to be the most salient predictor of disability.

The results of this study highlight the need for increasing awareness of self-perceived non-motor aspects among care providers treating patients with cervical dystonia. This presents opportunities for new rehabilitation possibilities that apply a behavioural medicine perspective.