Identifying misconceptions and knowledge gaps in functional neurological disorders among emergency care providers

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Emergency Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Functional Neurologic Disorders (FND) are common, disabling, and heterogeneous conditions.
• The Emergency Department (ED) is a critical first point of contact for FND patients experiencing crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Emergency Department (ED) providers' knowledge, attitudes, and management practices regarding Functional Neurologic Disorders (FND).
• To identify awareness of existing resources for FND care among ED providers.

Main Methods:

• Electronic surveys were distributed to 273 ED providers in the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Northeast Ohio network.
• Data collected included practice profiles, FND knowledge, attitudes, management strategies, and resource awareness.

Main Results:

• A low response rate (22%) yielded 60 completed surveys (50 physicians, 10 advanced care providers).
• 95% of respondents lacked understanding of FND, with 60% using outdated terms like 'Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures'.
• 85% found managing FND patients difficult, and 79% requested FND-specific educational materials.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps in knowledge and inaccurate perceptions of FND exist among ED providers.
• Current FND management by ED providers often deviates from the standard of care.
• Educational initiatives are essential to improve FND diagnosis and evidence-based treatment.