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Systematic review of movement disorders mislabeled as functional: when incongruence misleads
Daniel S Marín-Medina1,2, Joselyn Miño Zambrano2, Alberto J Espay3
1Edmond J. Safra Fellow in Movement Disorders, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Background:
Misdiagnosis of functional movement disorders (FMD) remains a concern for clinicians. We sought to review the phenomenology and clinical features associated with FMD misdiagnosis.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review of case reports, case series, and observational studies of adults diagnosed with FMD and subsequently reclassified as having another neurological or medical condition. PubMed was searched from inception to September 13, 2025, focusing on reported features of inconsistency, incongruence with known diseases, and low-validity features. Isolated (iMD) and mixed (mMD) movement disorders were analyzed separately.
Results:
Forty-two included studies comprised 150 patients, of which 73 cases underwent detailed analysis. Gait disturbance (35%) and dystonia (27.5%) were the most common iMD phenomenologies (n = 40), while jerks and rigidity (24%) were the most common mMD phenomenology (n = 33). Incongruence with known diseases (50.7%), psychological factors (34.2%), and symptom variability (31.5%) were the main factors associated with misdiagnosis. Application of incongruence alone was associated with the highest rate of FMD misdiagnosis, similar to that of applying neither incongruence nor inconsistency (49% in both cases). Conversely, reliance on inconsistency alone was least associated with an FMD misdiagnosis (13.7%). Misdiagnoses of iMD were more likely in the absence of documented inconsistency (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.32-12.82).
Conclusions:
FMD misdiagnoses, particularly of gait disorders and dystonia, were most commonly associated with the application of incongruence as diagnostic criterion. The lowest rate of FMD misdiagnosis was associated with ascertaining at least two positive neurological signs of inconsistency.
Insights
Misdiagnosing functional movement disorders (FMD) often stems from focusing on incongruence. Relying on at least two signs of neurological inconsistency significantly reduces FMD misdiagnosis rates.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
- Diagnostic Accuracy
Background:
- Misdiagnosis of functional movement disorders (FMD) is a persistent clinical challenge.
- Understanding features contributing to FMD misdiagnosis is crucial for improving patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review phenomenology and clinical features linked to FMD misdiagnosis.
- To identify diagnostic criteria associated with higher or lower rates of FMD misdiagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of case reports, case series, and observational studies of adults with FMD.
- Searched PubMed for studies reporting features of inconsistency, incongruence, and low validity.
- Analyzed isolated (iMD) and mixed (mMD) movement disorders separately.
Main Results:
- Gait disturbance and dystonia were common isolated FMDs; jerks and rigidity were common mixed FMDs.
- Incongruence with known diseases, psychological factors, and symptom variability were key misdiagnosis factors.
- Applying incongruence alone or neither criterion yielded high misdiagnosis rates (49%); inconsistency alone yielded low rates (13.7%).
Conclusions:
- Misdiagnosis of FMDs, especially gait disorders and dystonia, frequently resulted from using incongruence as a primary diagnostic criterion.
- Ascertaining at least two positive neurological signs of inconsistency was associated with the lowest FMD misdiagnosis rates.
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