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Healthcare
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Functional Neurological Disorders: Pandemic and Beyond
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Functional Neurological Disorders: Pandemic and Beyond

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2024) | Viewed by 3431

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Natalia Szejko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neurology and Bioethics, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: tourette syndrome; tics; movement disorders; functional neurological disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I invite you to participate in this Special Issue dedicated to functional neurological disorders, in the context of pandemic and beyond. Recent years have demonstrated that the problem of functional neurological disorders is an important health issue not only affecting patients in both the neurological and psychiatric setting. In recent years we have also experienced a surge of some functional movement disorders (e.g., functional tic-like behaviors provoked by social media), but also other factors that remain unclear. Therefore, it is crucial to further investigate the causes and pathophysiology of these disorders, which will in turn help to find new therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Natalia Szejko
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • functional neurological disorders
  • neuropsychiatry
  • mass sociogenic illness
  • pandemic
  • functional tic-like behaviors

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 273 KiB  
Article
Clarifying the Differences between Patients with Organic Tics and Functional Tic-Like Behaviors
by Kaja Andersen, Ida Jensen, Kirstine Birkebæk Okkels, Liselotte Skov and Nanette Mol Debes
Healthcare 2023, 11(10), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101481 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1354
Abstract
Due to the global increase in the number of patients with Functional Tic-Like Behaviors (FTLB), it has become increasingly important to find reliable differences between this patient group and patients with organic tics (OTs), which can be used in differential diagnosis. The purpose [...] Read more.
Due to the global increase in the number of patients with Functional Tic-Like Behaviors (FTLB), it has become increasingly important to find reliable differences between this patient group and patients with organic tics (OTs), which can be used in differential diagnosis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to critically examine both established and suggested differences between the patient groups. A total of 53 FTLB patients and 200 OT patients were included. Several findings from the current literature were replicated in this study: Compared to patients with OTs, patients with FTLB had significantly more complex tics, were older at symptom onset, were more likely to be female, and were less likely to have family members with tics. Furthermore, the study also revealed new differences between the groups: Patients with FTLB had significantly more family members with a psychiatric disorder, were more likely to have experienced an adverse psychosocial event immediately before symptom onset, and had significantly fewer simple tics. Finally, this study was unable to replicate the previously found differences in comorbidities between patients with OTs and FTLB. These findings could contribute significantly to the understanding of FTLB’s etiology and to improve diagnosis, as including the presence of simple tics and comorbidities in the diagnostic criteria might be discussed in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Neurological Disorders: Pandemic and Beyond)

Review

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18 pages, 605 KiB  
Review
Functional Tic-like Behaviors: From the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Post-Pandemic Era
by Andrea Eugenio Cavanna, Laura Spini, Silvia Ferrari, Giulia Purpura, Anna Riva, Renata Nacinovich and Stefano Seri
Healthcare 2024, 12(11), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12111106 - 28 May 2024
Viewed by 658
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been multiple reports about an unforeseen surge in adolescents and young adults exhibiting sudden onset functional tic-like behaviors. This phenomenon has been mainly associated with the female gender and occasionally after exposure to social media content featuring [...] Read more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been multiple reports about an unforeseen surge in adolescents and young adults exhibiting sudden onset functional tic-like behaviors. This phenomenon has been mainly associated with the female gender and occasionally after exposure to social media content featuring similar patterns of functional tic-like behaviors. A significant portion of these individuals have been directed to specialist clinics for movement disorders with initial misdiagnoses of late-onset refractory Tourette syndrome. Distinguishing between rapid onset functional tic-like behaviors and neurodevelopmental tics as part of Tourette syndrome can be challenging; however, the differential diagnosis is facilitated by focusing on specific clinical and demographic factors, which we have explored in a systematic literature review. Compared to neurodevelopmental tics, functional tic-like behaviors typically present with a more abrupt and intense manifestation of symptoms, onset at a later age, higher prevalence among females, inability to suppress tics, coexisting anxiety and depression, and sometimes a history of exposure to social media content portraying tic-like behaviors of a similar nature. This novel manifestation of a functional neurological disorder may thus be viewed as an emerging neuropsychiatric condition potentially triggered/exacerbated by the psychosocial repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Neurological Disorders: Pandemic and Beyond)
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8 pages, 240 KiB  
Case Report
Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Functional Neurological Disorders: A Case Report
by Federica Verme, Jacopo Maria Fontana, Paolo Piterà, Angelo Alito, Silvia Saffioti, Gabriele Baccalaro, Giuliano Zebellin and Paolo Capodaglio
Healthcare 2024, 12(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010071 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 805
Abstract
Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are complex disabling conditions requiring a multiple rehabilitation intervention. Here, we propose a new use of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) that was implemented in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in a wheelchair-ridden woman diagnosed with FND and other comorbidities. WBC is [...] Read more.
Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are complex disabling conditions requiring a multiple rehabilitation intervention. Here, we propose a new use of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) that was implemented in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in a wheelchair-ridden woman diagnosed with FND and other comorbidities. WBC is a promising adjuvant treatment in various conditions of rehabilitation interest, mainly because of its wide range of rapid effects, from anti-inflammatory to pain and autonomic modulating effects. The 4-week program included physiotherapy, nutritional intervention, psychological support, and WBC (−110 °C for 2 min). Questionnaires to assess disease impact, pain level, fatigue and sleep quality were administered. At discharge, improvements in body composition, haematological biomarkers, physical performance, and questionnaire scores were observed. The patient was able to walk independently with a walker for medium distances and reported unprecedented improvements, particularly in functional parameters and questionnaire scores. Although the extent to which WBC per se contributed to the measured improvements cannot be ascertained, subjective reports and our clinical observations indicate that WBC, the only intervention not previously experienced by the patient, acted as a booster for the rehabilitation interventions. Further research will be necessary to rule out any possible placebo effect and to confirm the effects of WBC on FND. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Neurological Disorders: Pandemic and Beyond)
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