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From Disability to Diagnosis: Baseline Findings from the Calgary Functional Movement Disorder Registry
Andrea Soumbasis1,2, Brian Steele3, Megan Howlett1,4
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice
|June 13, 2026
Summary
Functional movement disorder (FMD) is a complex condition often diagnosed late. This study describes FMD patient characteristics, highlighting common symptoms like fatigue and anxiety, to improve treatment pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Functional movement disorder (FMD) is a complex neuropsychiatric condition with inconsistent motor symptoms.
- Despite its prevalence, FMD faces diagnostic delays, significant disability, and limited treatment guidance.
- The Calgary FMD Clinic utilizes an integrated neurological-psychiatric model, with its registry offering insights into FMD characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the demographic and clinical features of patients in the Calgary FMD Registry.
- To examine prior healthcare utilization and neuropsychiatric risk factors in FMD patients.
- To inform stratified rehabilitation and treatment pathways for FMD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective registry-based cohort study at a Canadian tertiary center.
- Inclusion of patients with clinically diagnosed FMD, assessed by neurologists and neuropsychiatrists.
- Standardized data collection on demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, healthcare use, and validated outcome measures.
Main Results:
- Seventy-seven participants enrolled, predominantly female (58%), with a median age of 43 years.
- Median diagnostic delay was 12 months; episodic FMD was more common (57%).
- Constant FMD phenotypes showed greater symptom burden and disability; fatigue and anxiety were prevalent.
Conclusions:
- The Calgary FMD Registry uses a unique neurological-psychiatric model to define FMD phenotypes and correlates.
- The dataset represents the Canadian FMD population considered for intensive rehabilitation.
- Findings aim to guide stratified rehabilitation and treatment strategies for FMD.
