Clinical Profile and Induction Protocol of Video Electroencephalography in Children with Functional Neurological
Vishnupriya Veeraraghavan1, Diksha Sharma2, Subhamoni Kaman1
1Department of Pediatrics, Child Development and Early Intervention Centre (CDEIC), AIIMS, Guwahati, Assam, India.
Insights
This study found a non-invasive induction protocol during video electroencephalography (V-EEG) to be a safe and effective tool for diagnosing functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) presents diagnostic challenges in children.
- Video electroencephalography (V-EEG) is a key diagnostic tool, but event induction can be difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe clinical features of FNSD in children.
- To evaluate a structured, non-invasive induction protocol during V-EEG for diagnosing FNSD.
Main Methods:
- An observational study included 58 children (aged 6-14) with suspected FNSD.
- A stepwise, non-invasive induction protocol was performed during V-EEG.
- Event induction success, distress, time, and dissociative symptoms (Childhood Dissociative Checklist) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Motor symptoms were the most common presentation (34.5%).
- The induction protocol successfully reproduced events in 29/35 children.
- Verbal suggestion was the most effective induction technique (62.9%); no adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions:
- The non-invasive induction protocol is a safe and supportive diagnostic tool for FNSD in children.
- This method aids in confirming FNSD diagnoses during V-EEG.
Objectives:
To describe the clinical features and a structure, non-invasive induction protocol performed during video electroencephalography (V-EEG) of children with functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD).
Methods:
This observational study conducted over 1 year (November 2024-November 2025) enrolled children aged 6-14 years with clinically suspected FNSD. The children underwent V-EEG followed by a stepwise, non-invasive induction protocol. The study assessed the success of event induction, distress during induction, time taken to induce events, and dissociative symptoms using the Childhood Dissociative Checklist (CDC).
Results:
A total of 58 children (39 girls) with FNSD were included. Motor symptoms were the most common presentation (n = 20, 34.5%). Twenty-nine out of 35 children who underwent the induction protocol showed reproducible events during testing. Verbal suggestion focused on psychosocial stressors was the most effective technique in 22 (62.9%) children. CDC scores and distress scores were comparable across the different induction techniques (verbal suggestion, temporal compression, and moist swab application). No adverse effects related to the induction procedure were reported.
Conclusions:
The non-invasive induction protocol used along with V-EEG was safe and useful supportive tool for diagnosing FNSD in children.
More Related Videos
09:57Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
08:26Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016