Structured DanceMovement Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorder A Feasibility Study

Led by King's College London · Updated on 2026-06-26

Participants Needed

Research Sites

4 weeks

Total Duration

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Building on evidence for somatic or physical interventions in functional neurological disorder (FND), the goal of this study is to test the feasibility of a structured dance/movement task in individuals with FND, and explore the potential use of somatic or body-based therapies in this population. The primary study outcomes will be the feasibility and acceptability of a structured dance/movement therapy (DMT) intervention for individuals diagnosed with FND. The study will also explore whether this type of intervention has potential to contribute to elevating trust in the body and general wellbeing, alongside reducing functional neurological and dissociative symptoms. Researchers will compare structured dance/movement therapy to a physical exercise/body coordination condition.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Dance/Movement Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorder

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +

All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 18 or older
Fluency in English language
Normal or corrected eyesight
Primary diagnosis of FND with seizures, motor symptoms, sensory symptoms, or mixed FND symptoms
Participants will be asked to provide proof of FND diagnosis in the form of an existing medical letter from a qualified healthcare professional (not required to be from an NHS service). This will be checked prior to engaging in the screening interview for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Physical symptoms or disability that would prohibit the participant's ability to engage with the intervention and/or attend the in-person sessions (e.g., upper/lower limb paralysis, seizure frequency > 10 per day, severe tremor)
A diagnosis of functional cognitive disorder or functional cognitive symptoms only
Current participation in another body-based therapy or intervention for FND - participants currently engaging in some form of body- based therapy, whether self-guided or therapist-guided, will be asked to abstain from these sessions during the course of this study. If this is not feasible, the participant will be excluded from the current study.
Current comorbid diagnosis of a major neurological (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's), psychiatric (e.g., schizophrenia, active psychosis, severe alcohol or substance use disorder), or cardiovascular (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart failure) disorder that may impair the participant's ability to participate in the study and confound the results

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Structured DanceMovement Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorder A Feasibility Study

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Brief Title

Who Can Participate

Eligibility Criteria

Not the Right Trial for You?

On this page

Who Can Participate

Eligibility Criteria