CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2020; 78(06): 331-336
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20200009
Article

Rehabilitation for motor functional neurological disorder: a follow-up study of 185 patients

Reabilitação para transtorno neurológico funcional motor: um estudo de acompanhamento de 185 casos
1   SARAH, Departamento de Psicologia, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
,
2   SARAH, Departamento de Neurologia, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
,
3   SARAH, Departamento de Medicina, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations

ABSTRACT

Background: Motor functional neurological disorder (mFND) is a common and disabling condition. There are no evidence-based guidelines for treatment. Long-term outcome is often poor. This study describes the epidemiological profile, symptom pattern and outcome of patients admitted to the Belo Horizonte unit of the SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals from 1997 to 2018 with functional motor symptoms resulting from functional neurological disorder. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data from 185 patients who met inclusion criteria for mFND. Diagnoses were made by multiple professionals in the presence of positive signs and excluding other neurological and systemic conditions. Results: 75.1% were women; 48.3% were receiving social security benefits. The youngest was 3 years old, the oldest 69. 23.8% were in wheelchairs, 77.2% had psychiatric disorders, 69.7% participated in rehabilitation programs and, among them, 70% improved. Conclusion: Participation in rehabilitation is beneficial for patients with mFND. Symptoms lasting for less than 30 days and aged less than 18 years had better outcomes (p<0.001).

RESUMO

Introdução: Alterações motoras decorrentes de Transtorno Neurológico Funcional (TNF) são comuns, incapacitantes e com prognóstico ruim. Não há protocolos de tratamento baseado em evidências. Esse estudo descreve o perfil epidemiológico, os sintomas e a evolução de pacientes com alterações motoras decorrentes de Transtorno Neurológico Funcional (TNF) admitidos na unidade de Belo Horizonte da Rede SARAH de Hospitais de Reabilitação no período de 1997 a 2018. Métodos: Este estudo retrospectivo analisou dados de 185 pacientes que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão para TNF. Os diagnósticos foram realizados por múltiplos profissionais considerando a presença de sinais positivos e a exclusão de outras condições neurológicas e sistêmicas. Resultados: 75,1% eram mulheres; 48,3% estavam recebendo benefícios previdenciários. O indivíduo mais jovem tinha 3 anos de idade, e o mais velho, 69 anos. 23,8% usavam cadeira de rodas, 77,2% apresentavam desordens psiquiátricas, 69,7% tinham participado do programa de reabilitação e, dentre esses, 70% apresentaram melhora dos sintomas. Conclusão: O processo de reabilitação é benéfico para pacientes com TNF. Pacientes menores de 18 anos de idade e com sintomas de evolução com duração inferior a 30 dias apresentaram melhores resultados no tratamento (p<0,001).



Publication History

Received: 24 December 2019

Accepted: 16 January 2020

Article published online:
13 June 2023

© 2020. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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