BENIGN FASCICULATION SYNDROME AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS, A SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS) is a neurological disease manifested as persistent muscle twitching with the absence of a serious underlying pathology. Unlike the fasciculations that characterizes the most serious condition like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the BFS is not associated with weakness or muscle atrophy. Although the exact underlying mechanism of BFS is not well understood, it seems that anxiety, depression and the fear from having ALS play an important role especially among health care workers.

To detect the frequency and characteristics of BFS among a group of health care workers and to verify its possible correlation with the anxiety, depression and fear of having MND.

In this comparative cross-sectional study, BFS was diagnosed in health care workers as well as the comparative group reflecting general population based on the clinical characteristics of fasciculation and by having normal neurological examination and normal nerve conduction study (NCS) and electromyograph (EMG). Anxiety and depression will be assessed according to generalized anxiety disorder 7 score (GAD-7) and patients health questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9).

Our study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome (BFS) among healthcare workers (13.9%) compared to the general population (3.0%). This difference was statistically significant (p=0.002), indicating that healthcare workers face over five times the odds of developing BFS. Among affected healthcare workers, the most frequently reported clinical features accompanying fasciculations were perceived motor weakness (33.3%), sensory symptoms (26.7%), and tremor (26.7%). The average duration of symptoms was just over three years. A striking finding was the strong association between BFS and psychological comorbidities. Within the BFS group, 60% of individuals suffered from anxiety, with over half of these cases classified as severe. Similarly, 33.3% of BFS patients were diagnosed with depression. Statistical analysis confirmed that healthcare workers with anxiety or depression had a five-fold increased risk of having BFS compared to their non-affected colleagues (p=0.003 and p=0.016, respectively).

In conclusion, this study identifies healthcare workers as a population at significantly increased risk for Benign Fasciculation Syndrome (BFS). The condition is strongly associated with and likely precipitated by high rates of severe anxiety and depression within this cohort. These findings underscore the critical importance of integrating psychological screening and mental health support into the diagnostic and therapeutic management of BFS for healthcare professionals.