Prevalence and Clinical Presentation of Functional Neurological Disorders in Patients With Movement Disorders - A Cross-sectional Study at the Medical University of Graz

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying functional neurological disorders (FND) in patients who have common non-functional movement disorders, a condition sometimes called "functional overlay." This observational study aims to find out how often FND occurs in these patients and what specific characteristics these disorders show. FND can affect quality of life and involve symptoms like impaired movement control, cognitive fog, and other non-motor symptoms, with causes linked to psychological and biological factors. Participants will undergo several evaluations including a neurological examination, neuropsychological testing, tremor diagnostics using accelerometry, and various questionnaires that assess psychological, biological, and social risk factors. These tests include standardized cognitive assessments and scales measuring anxiety, depression, fatigue, trauma history, personality traits, and quality of life. The researchers will compare patients with functional motor disorders to those with non-functional movement disorders to understand differences in functional symptoms. During the study, participants will have clinical and electrophysiological examinations lasting up to about 30 minutes for the primary outcome measure of functional neurological symptoms. Secondary assessments include anamnesis, tremor diagnostics, and various questionnaires and cognitive tests totaling variable times. The study will monitor these factors to better understand the frequency and nature of functional symptoms in movement disorders. Participation involves detailed testing and questionnaires, and the study is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Observational Study on "Functional Overlay" in Patients With Movement Disorders