UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Outpatient CBT for Motor Functional Neurological Disorder and Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions: A Retrospective Case Comparison

O'Connell, N; Watson, G; Grey, C; Pastena, R; McKeown, K; David, AS; (2020) Outpatient CBT for Motor Functional Neurological Disorder and Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions: A Retrospective Case Comparison. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences , 32 (1) pp. 58-66. 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19030067. Green open access

[thumbnail of David_Outpatient CBT for Motor Functional Neurological Disorder and Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions_AAM.pdf]
Preview
Text
David_Outpatient CBT for Motor Functional Neurological Disorder and Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions_AAM.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (283kB) | Preview

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: No gold-standard treatment exists for motor functional neurological disorder (mFND), and limited evidence has been found for the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating the disorder. This study examined sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and treatment dropout among patients with and without mFND who received CBT in a neuropsychiatric outpatient clinic in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Data from a large anonymized psychiatric register were used to identify patients who received outpatient CBT in a neuropsychiatry clinic between 2006 and 2016 and who had either mFND (N=98) or other neuropsychiatric conditions (ONP) (N=76, control group). The study examined sociodemographic characteristics, physical symptom improvement, and changes in clinical outcome and scores on three instruments measuring psychological distress, psychiatric sequelae of brain injury, and depression. RESULTS: The most common mFND symptoms were weakness, pain, and tremors. A logistic regression analysis found no sociodemographic differences between patients with mFND who dropped out early and those who completed CBT. Pre- and post-CBT scores on the three instruments were available for only a small subset of patients; both mFND and ONP patients showed significant improvements in overall scores. A logistic regression analysis found only a single predictor of symptom improvement in the mFND group: acceptance of a psychological explanation of symptoms prior to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in physical and psychological functioning were similar for patients with mFND and patients with ONP who were treated in a specialist CBT clinic. This study provides evidence that CBT is feasible and effective for some patients with mFND.

Type: Article
Title: Outpatient CBT for Motor Functional Neurological Disorder and Other Neuropsychiatric Conditions: A Retrospective Case Comparison
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19030067
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19030067
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Functional Neurological Disorder
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10082551
Downloads since deposit
370Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item