Psychotherapy Experiences within Multidisciplinary Care for Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder: A Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (FNSD) presents significant disability, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
• While clinical awareness of FNSD grows, patient perspectives on psychotherapy within multidisciplinary care are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively investigate the psychotherapy experiences of individuals with FNSD receiving short-term cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as part of multidisciplinary treatment.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured online interviews with 12 patients diagnosed with functional movement disorders post-inpatient multidisciplinary treatment.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews to identify recurrent patterns in patient experiences.

Main Results:

• Patients reported therapeutic change in reduced symptom burden, enhanced emotional regulation, altered illness perspectives, and increased daily functioning.
• Therapeutic change was linked to the therapeutic relationship, safe environment, patient readiness, active participation, and structured therapeutic techniques.
• Variability in outcomes was noted, with some patients experiencing persistent symptoms and emotional difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Psychotherapy for FNSD yields multidimensional changes, including increased self-awareness and re-engagement in life, not solely symptom reduction.
• Patient-reported factors influencing change offer clinically relevant insights into psychotherapy for FNSD.
• Understanding these subjective experiences is crucial for optimizing FNSD treatment approaches.