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Observational Studies

Observational Studies

Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Electroencephalography Network Indices as Biomarkers of Upper Limb Impairment in Chronic Stroke

Electroencephalography Network Indices as Biomarkers of Upper Limb Impairment in Chronic Stroke

Published on: July 14, 2023

Functional stroke symptoms: A prospective observational case series.

Abbeygail Jones¹, Abigail Smakowski², Nicola O'Connell³

¹Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom.

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

|March 4, 2020

Summary

Functional symptoms mimic stroke, causing distress and slow recovery. Improved access to supportive interventions is crucial for patients with these neurological conditions.

Keywords:

Case series Functional neurological symptoms Observational Prospective Stroke

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Last Updated: Dec 27, 2025

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Psychiatry
Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

Functional neurological symptoms are often mistaken for stroke in acute settings.
There's a lack of management guidelines and research on patients with functional symptoms.
This study investigates the clinical profile and presentation of functional symptoms in stroke patients.

Observation:

A prospective observational study was conducted across four acute stroke units in Southeast London.
Data included demographics, clinical details, GP attendances, and self-report measures on anxiety, depression, and illness perception.
Fifty-six patients were recruited, with 63% being female and a mean age of 50.9 years.

Findings:

Unilateral weakness and limb weakness were the most common symptoms, often ambiguously recorded.
Approximately 40% of patients reported anxiety and depression above diagnostic thresholds.
Only physical functioning showed improvement at follow-up, with 82% experiencing ongoing symptoms and less than 50% accessing treatment.

Implications:

Functional symptoms in stroke settings are associated with significant patient distress and cognitive-behavioral responses.
Recovery from functional neurological symptoms can be prolonged, necessitating enhanced access to supportive interventions.
Improved diagnostic clarity and tailored management strategies are crucial for this patient population.