Inpatient Treatment of Functional Neurological Disorder: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a complex condition affecting millions.
• Understanding inpatient characteristics and interventions for FND is crucial for improving patient care.
• This review focuses on patients admitted to the hospital for FND, encompassing both acute and chronic presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize patients admitted to hospital for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
• To assess the interventions utilized in inpatient settings for FND.
• To evaluate the outcomes of FND patients following hospital admission.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted.
• Included studies focused on adult patients admitted for FND, excluding psychogenic non-epileptic attacks (PNEA).
• Data from 34 articles describing 458 patients were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Motor symptoms were the most prevalent in admitted FND patients.
• Physiotherapy and psychotherapy were the primary interventions administered.
• Most studies reported partial or complete symptom resolution.

Conclusions:

• Patients with acute FND presentations were older and had higher male representation compared to chronic cases.
• Chronic FND symptom presentations were more prone to non-improvement or relapse.
• Early diagnosis and inpatient rehabilitation are postulated to positively influence FND patient outcomes.