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Changes of Phenotypic Pattern in Functional Movement Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study
Aleksandra Tomić1, Milica Ječmenica Lukić1, Igor Petrović1
1Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Neurology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Frontiers in Neurology
|November 30, 2020
Summary
Functional movement disorders (FMD) often change over time, with many patients developing new symptoms. Psychological factors and motor severity at diagnosis predict this symptom progression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Functional movement disorders (FMD) are characterized by symptoms not explained by neurodegeneration or lesions.
- Understanding FMD phenotypic evolution is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate clinical features influencing FMD phenotype presentation and disease course.
- To identify predictors of phenotypic changes in FMD patients.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal observation of 100 FMD patients over an average of 3.2 years.
- Comprehensive baseline and follow-up clinical and psychiatric assessments.
- Analysis of phenotypic patterns and disease progression.
Main Results:
- 48% of FMD patients exhibited phenotypic pattern changes during the study.
- Dystonia phenotypes were more stable; Tremor, Gait, Parkinsonism, and Mixed phenotypes were more prone to evolving.
- Higher baseline somatoform experiences and motor severity predicted increased symptom enrichment.
Conclusions:
- FMD patients show a tendency for symptom progression and enrichment over time.
- Psychological factors, pain, and depressive disorders are relevant to FMD chronicity and disability.
Keywords:
disease coursefunctional movement disordersphenotypic progressionpsychiatric disorderspsychosomatic disorders
