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Purpose: Little is known about the accuracy of the GAD-7, a self-report anxiety measure, in detecting generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in people with dissociative seizures (DS). We evaluated the reliability, validity and uniformity of the GAD-7 using a diagnosis of GAD on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview as a reference. Methods: We assessed 368 adults with DS at the pre-randomisation phase of the CODES trial. Factor analysis for categorical data assessed GAD-7 uniformity. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by estimating the area under the curve (AUC). We evaluated discriminant validity, reviewed data on convergent validity and calculated internal consistency. We explored correlations between GAD-7 scores and monthly DS frequency, frequency of severe seizures and measures of behavioural and emotional avoidance. Results: Internal consistency of the GAD-7 was high (α = 0.92). Factor analysis elicited one main factor and general measurement invariance. Diagnostic accuracy was fair (AUC = 0.72) but the best balance of sensitivity and specificity occurred at a cut-off of ≥12 and still had a specificity rate of only 68%. Discriminant and convergent validity were good. GAD-7 scores correlated positively with DS frequency, severe seizure frequency, behavioural and emotional avoidance (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings regarding internal consistency and factor structure parallel previous psychometric evaluations of the GAD-7. Correlations between GAD-7 scores and DS occurrence/severity and avoidance are evidence of the concept validity of GAD-7 and provide further support for a fear-avoidance treatment model for DS. However, the utility of the GAD-7 as a diagnostic instrument for generalised anxiety disorder is limited in patients with DS.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a common comorbidity in those with functional neurological disorder (FND), however the prevalence and characteristics of FND in those with chronic pain is unknown.METHODS: A retrospective electronic records review of consecutive new patients attending a chronic pain clinic of a regional service. Clinical features, medication and outcome of chronic pain, any lifetime diagnoses of functional, FND and psychiatric disorders and undiagnosed neurological symptoms were recorded.RESULTS: Of 190 patients attending the chronic pain clinic, 32 (17%) had a lifetime diagnosis of FND and an additional 11 (6%) had undiagnosed neurological symptoms. Pain patients with comorbid FND were more likely to have chronic primary pain (88% with FND, 44% without FND, p CONCLUSIONS: This first study of FND in a chronic pain patient population found a remarkably high prevalence of FND (17%) and is possibly an underestimate. The size of the overlap indicates that FND and chronic pain research fields are likely to have a lot to learn from each other.

BackgroundThe literature on predictors of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) following peripheral vestibular insults has not been systematically reviewed.MethodsWe systematically reviewed studies on predictors of PPPD and its four predecessors (phobic postural vertigo, space-motion discomfort, chronic subjective dizziness and visual vertigo). Investigations focused on new onset chronic dizziness following peripheral vestibular insults, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Precipitating events, promoting factors, initial symptoms, physical and psychological comorbidities and results of vestibular testing and neuroimaging were extracted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.ResultsWe identified 13 studies examining predictors of PPPD or PPPD-like chronic dizziness. Anxiety following vestibular injury, dependent personality traits, autonomic arousal and increased body vigilance following precipitating events and visual dependence, but not the severity of initial or subsequent structural vestibular deficits or compensation status, were the most important predictors of chronic dizziness. Disease-related abnormalities of the otolithic organs and semi-circular canals and age-related brain changes seem to be important only in a minority of patients. Data on pre-existing anxiety were mixed.ConclusionsAfter acute vestibular events, psychological and behavioural responses and brain maladaptation are the most likely predictors of PPPD, rather than the severity of changes on vestibular testing. Age-related brain changes appear to have a smaller role and require further study. Premorbid psychiatric comorbidities, other than dependent personality traits, are not relevant for the development of PPPD.

Background and purpose Functional neurological disorder (FND) is common, and symptoms can be severe. There have been no international large-scale studies of patient experiences of FND. Methods A patient questionnaire was created to assess FND patient characteristics, symptom comorbidities and illness perceptions. Respondents were recruited internationally through an open access questionnaire via social media and patient groups over a month-long period. Results In total, 1048 respondents from 16 countries participated. Mean age was 42 years (86% female). Median FND symptom duration was 5 years, and median time from first symptom to diagnosis was 2 years. Mean number of current symptoms (core FND and associated) was 9.9. Many respondents had associated symptoms, for example fatigue (93%), memory difficulties (80%) and headache (70%). Self-reported psychiatric comorbidities were relatively common (depression, 43%; anxiety, 51%; panic, 20%; and post-traumatic stress disorder, 22%). Most respondents reported that FND had multiple causes, including physical and psychological. Conclusions This large survey adds further evidence that people with FND typically have high levels of multiple symptom comorbidity with resultant distress. It also supports the notion that associated physical symptoms are of particular clinical significance in FND patients. Dualistic ideas of FND were not supported by respondents, who generally preferred to conceptualize the disorder as one at the interface of mind and brain. The need for a broad approach to this poorly served patient group is highlighted. Potential selection and response biases due to distribution of the survey online, mostly via FND patient groups, are a key limitation.

Introduction Compression of the cauda equina can lead to bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction with lower limb pain, numbness and weakness. Urgent surgical decompression aims to prevent progressive neurological deficit. Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome (CES), such as back pain, sciatica and bladder dysfunction are common in the population, but the majority of those investigated do not have radiological cauda equina compression. However, a missed diagnosis can have significant medical, social and legal consequences. We investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentation and management of suspected CES. Methods This retrospective cohort study analysed referral, investigation and treatment of CES in a regional neurosurgical centre during the initial COVID-19 surge between March and May 2020 compared with March to May 2019. Results Referrals for suspected CES were similar during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 275) compared with 2019 (n = 261, p = 0.596) despite a significant (19%) decrease in total emergency neurosurgical referrals (1248 in 2020 vs 1544 in 2019, p Conclusions Unlike other emergency neurosurgical conditions, the number of referrals for suspected CES and the percentage of referrals with radiological cauda equina compression were unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The persistence of CES referrals when many people stayed away from hospital highlights the distress and worry caused by suspected CES and its symptoms to both patients and healthcare providers.

We present a practical overview of functional neurological disorder (FND), its epidemiology, assessment and diagnosis, diagnostic pitfalls, treatment, aetiology and mechanism. We present an update on functional limb weakness, tremor, dystonia and other abnormal movements, dissociative seizures, functional cognitive symptoms and urinary retention, and 'scan-negative' cauda equina syndrome. The diagnosis of FND should rest on clear positive evidence, typically from a combination of physical signs on examination or the nature of seizures. In treatment of FND, clear communication of the diagnosis and the involvement of the multidisciplinary team is beneficial. We recommend that patients with FND are referred to specialists with expertise in neurological diagnosis. FND is a common presentation in emergency and acute medical settings and there are many practical elements to making a positive diagnosis and communication which are useful for all physicians to be familiar with.

BackgroundThe term ‘brain fog’ is increasingly used colloquially to describe difficulties in the cognitive realm. But what is brain fog? What sort of experiences do people talk about when they talk about brain fog? And, in turn, what might this tell us about potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms? This study examined first-person descriptions in order to better understand the phenomenology of brain fog.MethodsPosts containing ‘brain fog’ were scraped from the social media platform Reddit, using python, over a week in October 2021. We examined descriptions of brain fog, themes of containing subreddits (topic-specific discussion forums), and causal attributions.Results1663 posts containing ‘brain fog’ were identified, 717 meeting inclusion criteria. 141 first person phenomenological descriptions depicted forgetfulness (51), difficulty concentrating (43), dissociative phenomena (34), cognitive ‘slowness’ and excessive effort (26), communication difficulties (22), ‘fuzziness’ or pressure (10) and fatigue (9). 50% (363/717) posts were in subreddits concerned with illness and disease: including COVID-19 (87), psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, autoimmune and functional disorders. 134 posts were in subreddits about drug use or discontinuation, and 44 in subreddits about abstention from masturbation. 570 posts included the poster’s causal attribution, the most frequent attribution being long COVID in 60/570 (10%).Conclusions‘Brain fog’ is used on Reddit to describe heterogeneous experiences, including of dissociation, fatigue, forgetfulness and excessive cognitive effort, and in association with a range of illnesses, drugs and behaviours. Encouraging detailed description of these experiences will help us better understand pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive symptoms in health and disease.

ObjectiveTo describe clinical features relevant to diagnosis, mechanism, and etiology in patients with “scan-negative” cauda equina syndrome (CES).MethodsWe carried out a prospective study of consecutive patients presenting with the clinical features of CES to a regional neurosurgery center comprising semi-structured interview and questionnaires investigating presenting symptoms, neurologic examination, psychiatric and functional disorder comorbidity, bladder/bowel/sexual function, distress, and disability.ResultsA total of 198 patients presented consecutively over 28 months. A total of 47 were diagnosed with scan-positive CES (mean age 48 years, 43% female). A total of 76 mixed category patients had nerve root compression/displacement without CES compression (mean age 46 years, 71% female) and 61 patients had scan-negative CES (mean age 40 years, 77% female). An alternative neurologic cause of CES emerged in 14/198 patients during admission and 4/151 patients with mean duration 25 months follow-up. Patients with scan-negative CES had more positive clinical signs of a functional neurologic disorder (11% scan-positive CES vs 34% mixed and 68% scan-negative,p< 0.0001), were more likely to describe their current back pain as worst ever (41% vs 46% and 70%,p= 0.005), and were more likely to have symptoms of a panic attack at onset (37% vs 57% and 70%,p= 0.001). Patients with scan-positive CES were more likely to have reduced/absent bilateral ankle jerks (78% vs 30% and 12%,p< 0.0001). There was no significant difference between groups in the frequency of reduced anal tone and urinary retention.ConclusionThe first well-phenotyped, prospective study of scan-negative CES supports a model in which acute pain, medication, and mechanisms overlapping with functional neurologic disorders may be relevant.

ObjectiveTo determine whether self-rated health of patients with motor functional neurologic disorder (FND) can be improved by unguided Internet-based self-help and education.MethodsIn this nonblinded randomized controlled trial, patients were allocated 1:1 unbiased to an unguided education and self-help website in addition to usual care or usual care only. Patients over 17 years of age with a functional motor symptom that caused distress or disability were included. The primary outcome was self-rated health on the Clinical Global Improvement scale at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes were severity of motor symptoms, other physical and psychiatric symptoms, physical functioning, quality of life, work and social adjustment, illness beliefs, and satisfaction with care.ResultsA total of 186 patients were randomized, with a follow-up rate of 87% at 6 months. There was no difference in improvement of self-rated health at 3 months (44% vs 40%, p = 0.899) or 6 months (42% vs 43%, p = 0.435). Secondary outcomes did not differ between groups, with a threshold of p < 0.01. Satisfaction was high, with 86% of patients recommending the website to other patients.ConclusionWe found no significant effect of the intervention added to usual care on self-rated health or secondary outcome measures, despite high patient satisfaction with the intervention. These results suggest that online education and nonguided self-help could be valuable additions to stepped care for motor FND, but are not effective treatments as interventions in their own right.Clinicaltrials.gov identifierNCT02589886.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class III evidence that for patients with motor FND, online education and self-help intervention does not significantly improve self-rated health.

Using archived records, plus oral histories from retired neurologists, Fend et al. examine attitudes to functional neurological disorders in the mid-20th century. While frequently scathing in their correspondence, most neurologists of the time adopted a pragmatic approach with many referring patients to psychiatrists.

Background Functional motor disorder (FMD) is a common cause of disabling neurological symptoms such as weakness and tremor. We are carrying out a pragmatic, multicentre single blind randomised controlled trial to evaluate effectiveness and cost effectiveness of specialist physiotherapy versus treatment as usual to improve physical functioning at 12 months. Like many other studies, this trial was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted the trial towards the end of planned recruitment. In this paper, we discuss (i) the impact of COVID-19 on the trial; (ii) the impact mitigation strategies implemented; and (iii) the planned statistical and health economic analysis methods and sensitivity analyses aimed at assessing the disrupting influence of COVID-19 on the trial. Methods The planned statistical and health economics analyses for this trial are described, as well as the sensitivity analyses designed to assess the disruption caused by COVID-19. The trial treatment of at least 89 participants (33%) was disrupted due to the pandemic response. To account for this, we have extended the trial to increase the sample size. We have identified four groups based on how participants’ involvement in Physio4FMD was affected; A: 24 were unaffected; B: 131 received their trial-treatment before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up during the pandemic; C: 89 were recruited in early 2020 and had not received any randomised treatment before clinical services closed because of COVID-19; D: participants recruited after the trial was restarted in July 2021 (target 90 to 120). The primary analysis will involve groups A, B and D. Regression analysis will be used to assess treatment effectiveness. We will conduct descriptive statistics for each of the groups identified and sensitivity regression analyses with participants from all groups, including group C, separately. Discussion The COVID-19 mitigation strategy and analysis plans are designed to maintain the integrity of the trial while providing meaningful results. By publishing our analysis plans ahead of database lock, analysis and unblinding, we aim to avoid bias due to data-driven analysis. Trial registration : The trial was registered with the ISRCTN register on 27/03/2018, number ISRCTN56136713.

PURPOSE: The CODES Trial for adults with dissociative seizures had a predesignated 12-month post-randomisation follow-up point for outcome evaluation. We undertook an exploratory, unplanned, secondary analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy plus standardised medical care (CBT+SMC) compared to SMC alone at 6 months post-randomisation, i.e., closer to the end of treatment.METHODS: The analysis of 6-month data followed our previous method of using multiple imputation and an intention-to-treat approach to analyse variables 12 months post-randomisation.RESULTS: The original trial primary outcome of monthly seizure frequency showed greater benefit from CBT+SMC than SMC-alone at 6 months (at p < 0.05). Of 13 comparable previously-defined secondary outcomes, 12 showed a significant between group effect (p < 0.05) in favour of the CBT intervention at 6 months. The average effect size of the comparable previously-defined primary and secondary continuous outcomes was 0.33 at 6 months vs 0.26 at 12 months. The estimated Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) quantifying monthly seizure reduction was IRR = 0.72 (95%CI from 0.55 to 0.93) at 6 months compared to IRR = 0.78 at 12 months.CONCLUSION: DS-specific CBT (plus SMC) produced evidence of significant benefits at 6 months post- randomisation (around which time CBT was complete) compared to SMC alone; for the majority of these outcomes, better results following CBT (plus SMC) had previously been reported at 12 months. Our pattern of results suggests that short- and longer-term follow-ups are necessary to understand treatment effects in this disorder. Studies only providing short-term follow-up data should be interpreted with caution.

BACKGROUND: To determine gender differences in rates of sexual and physical abuse in functional movement disorders compared to controls and evaluate if the gender disparity of functional movement disorders is associated with abuse history. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study of self-reported trauma data from 696 patients (512 women) with functional movement disorders from six clinical sites compared to 141 controls (98 women) and population data. Chi-square was used to assess gender and disorder associations; logistic regression was used to model additive effects of abuse and calculate the attributable fraction of abuse to disorder prevalence. RESULTS: Higher rates of sexual abuse were reported by women (35.3%) and men (11.5%) with functional movement disorders compared to controls (10.6% of women; 5.6% of men). History of sexual abuse increased the likelihood of functional movement disorders among women by an odds ratio of 4.57 (95% confidence interval, 2.31–9.07; p < 0.0001) and physical abuse by an odds ratio of 2.80 (95% confidence interval, 1.53–5.12; p=0.0007). Population attributable fraction of childhood sexual abuse to functional movement disorders in women was 0.12 (0.05–0.19). No statistically significant associations were found in men, but our cohort of men was underpowered despite including multiple sites. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that violence against women may account for some of the gender disparity in rates of functional movement disorders. Most people with functional movement disorders do not report a history of abuse, so it remains just one among many relevant risk factors to consider.

Functional neurological disorder is common in neurological practice. A new approach to the positive diagnosis of this disorder focuses on recognisable patterns of genuinely experienced symptoms and signs that show variability within the same task and between different tasks over time. Psychological stressors are common risk factors for functional neurological disorder, but are often absent. Four entities-functional seizures, functional movement disorders, persistent perceptual postural dizziness, and functional cognitive disorder-show similarities in aetiology and pathophysiology and are variants of a disorder at the interface between neurology and psychiatry. All four entities have distinctive features and can be diagnosed with the support of clinical neurophysiological studies and other biomarkers. The pathophysiology of functional neurological disorder includes overactivity of the limbic system, the development of an internal symptom model as part of a predictive coding framework, and dysfunction of brain networks that gives movement the sense of voluntariness. Evidence supports tailored multidisciplinary treatment that can involve physical and psychological therapy approaches.

Background and objective People with functional motor disorder (FMD) report triggers—sensory or motor-induced stimuli that exacerbate or initiate paroxysmal occurrences of their movement disorder. These are a distinct phenomenon from precipitating factors occurring at the initial onset of the disorder. We aimed to assess triggers in FMD and understand their relevance to paroxysmal variability often seen in FMD. Methods We enrolled consecutive outpatients with a definite diagnosis of FMD. Each patient underwent a detailed clinical evaluation also including the presence of trigger factors and video-recordings both during neurological examination and physiotherapy treatment. Patients were classified as having “triggers” (T-FMD) or “not having triggers” (NoT-FMD) as well as “paroxysmal” compared to “persistent with paroxysmal variability”. Results The study sample was 100 patients (82% female) with FMD; the mean age at onset was 41 years. Triggers were observed in 88% of patients and in 65 of these the FMD was pure paroxysmal. The most common triggers were movement or physical exercise, followed by emotional, visual, touch, and auditory stimuli; 39 (44%) were isolated and 49 (56%) were combined triggers. Among the T-FMD patients, FMD were paroxysmal in 74% (n = 65) and persistent with paroxysmal variability in 26% (n = 23). The T-FMD patients were younger (p = 0.016) and had a gait disorder (p = 0.035) more frequently than the NoT-FMD patients. Discussion Triggers are frequent in FMD and may have diverse overlapping clinical presentations. In this sample, FMD was most often paroxysmal, suggesting the value of noting triggers as clinical clues in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of FMD.

Adverse life events precede the onset of functional neurological disorder (FND, also known as conversion disorder) more commonly than other neuropsychiatric conditions, but their aetiological role is unclear. We conducted a systematic review and quantitative analysis of the type, timing and number of life events preceding the onset of FND in adults, and a meta-analysis of the proportions of types of events in controlled studies. Fifty-one studies of different designs, covering 4247 patients, were eligible for inclusion. There was no clear majority of any type of preceding event. Family problems were the most common category of events, followed by relationship problems. Females were more likely to experience preceding family/relationship problems than males, who reported more work problems. Family problems were the commonest type of preceding event in studies in developing countries, whereas family and health problems were equally common in developed countries. Abuse was associated with early symptom onset, while patients with later onset were more likely to report family problems. The median number of events was one, and the events occurred closer to onset than in controls. Meta-analysis found that family, relationship and work events were all relatively more common in patients than pathological controls, as were events where symptoms might provide a solution to the stressor. In conclusion, although a range of events precede the onset of FND, they do not appear to do so uniformly. This may support a different aetiological role for stressors than in other disorders, although the support is indirect and the quality generally low.

Amongst the most important conditions in the differential diagnosis of epilepsy is the one that manifests as paroxysms of altered behaviour, awareness, sensation or sense of bodily control in ways that often resemble epileptic seizures, but without the abnormal excessive or synchronous electrical activity in the brain that defines these. Despite this importance, there remains little agreement – and frequent debate – on what to call this condition, known inter alia as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), dissociative seizures (DS), functional seizures (FS), non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD), pseudoseizures, conversion disorder with seizures, and by many other labels besides. This choice of terminology is not merely academic – it affects patients’ response to and understanding of their diagnosis, and their ability to navigate health care systems.This paper summarises two recent discussions hosted by the American Epilepsy Society and Functional Neurological Disorders Society on the naming of this condition. These discussions are conceptualised as the initial step of an exploration of whether it might be possible to build consensus for a new diagnostic label.

ObjectivesThe term ‘brain fog’ is increasingly used in social and other media. But what is brain fog? What sort of experiences do people talk about when they talk about brain fog? And, in turn, what might this tell us about potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms? In this study we examined first-person descriptions of brain fog in order to better understand a) the phenomenology of brain fog, and b) the causal attributions of those describing brain fog. We use this information to consider implications for clinical research.MethodsData were scraped from the social media platform Reddit using Python. Posts containing ‘brain fog’ were identified between 27thOctober 2021 and 3rd November 2021. Those not describing or discussing brain fog as a symptom or experience were excluded. Potentially identifying information was removed prior to analysis. We undertook thematic analysis of containing subreddits (topic-specific discussion forums), causal attributions, and discrete brain fog experiences.Results1663 posts including the term ‘brain fog’ were identified, of which 717 met inclusion criteria.44% (315/717) posts originated from subreddits concerned with illness and disease: including COVID-19 (87 posts), autoimmune, functional, neurodevelopmental, major psychiatric, and endocrine disorders. Brain fog was also discussed in subreddits about prescribed and non-prescribed drug use, and subreddits concerned with intentional restriction of masturbation (‘nofap’).141 first person descriptions of brain fog described overlapping concepts including: forgetfulness (51), difficulty concentrating (43), dissociative phenomena (34), perceived cognitive ‘slowness’ and excessive effort (26), communication difficulties (22), a feeling of ‘fuzziness’ or pressure in the head (10), and fatigue (9).570 posts described a perceived cause of brain fog, of which half attributed brain fog to illness or disease (282/570) (the most common single attribution being ‘long COVID’ in 59/570 (10%)), followed by psychiatric conditions in 38/570 (7%). The second most common single attribution of brain fog, in 24/570 (24%), was restriction or excessive masturbation.ConclusionsBrain fog is discussed on the Reddit social media platform in association with a wide range of illnesses, diseases, drugs, and activities. The term is used to describe heterogeneous experiences, which do not map in a straightforward way to the domains enquired about during a ‘cognitive’ clinical examination, but include experiences of dissociation, fatigue, and excessive cognitive effort. Encouraging detailed description of subjective experiences – moving away from a psychometric testing approach and towards a phenomenological approach – might open new routes into understanding cognitive difficulties in health and disease.

Objectives/AimsChronic pain is commonly reported as a comorbidity in patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) however the prevalence of FND in those presenting with chronic pain is unknown. We aimed to estimate 1) the prevalence of FND in patients seen at a chronic pain clinic and 2) how patients with chronic pain and comorbid FND differ from those without FND in terms of pain characteristics, psychiatric comorbidity, pain management and pain outcome.MethodsRetrospective electronic records review of consecutive new patients attending chronic pain clinics of 8 pain specialists in Lothian from the 1st of August 2019 to the 19thSeptember of 2019. Mean duration of follow up was 25 months. We recorded the clinical features, medication, management and outcome of chronic pain, any lifetime (up to November 2021) diagnoses of functional, FND and psychiatric disorders and undiagnosed neurological symptoms (where it was unclear if symptoms related to FND or another condition).ResultsOf 190 patients attending a chronic pain clinic, 32 (17%) had at least one lifetime diagnosis of FND and an additional 8 (4%) had undiagnosed neurological symptoms. FND diagnoses were functional limb weakness (8%), functional sensory disorder (8%), dissociative seizures (6%), functional cognitive disorder (5%), functional movement disorder (4%) and others (2%). Chronic primary pain (pConclusionsFND was found in a surprisingly high 17% of new patients at a chronic pain clinic. This may be an underestimate based on an additional 4% of patients with undiagnosed neurological symptoms. Patients with chronic pain and FND are significantly more likely to have chronic primary pain compared to other pain patients but do not experience different pain management or outcome. These results provide further evidence of the important overlap between FND and chronic pain conditions.

ObjectivesEvaluate patients’ and healthcare professionals’ attitudes towards deceptive and open-label placebo treatments, its perceived effectiveness and current use.MethodsA sixteen-item anonymous survey explored attitudes towards deceptive and open-label placebo treatments in clinical practice, its perceived effectiveness and current use. The following groups completed the survey: 288 people with a neurological condition, 138 people with a functional neurological disorder, 61 people with a medical condition, 59 healthy controls and 112 healthcare professionals, of which 45 neurologists and 20 psychiatrists/psychologists.ResultsThe overall attitude to deceptive placebo treatments was favourable amongst non-professionals (69% in favour). The healthcare professionals were more conservative, with only 48% being in favour. However, a considerable number strongly opposed deceptive placebo: 15% of medical patients, 11% of neurological patients and 22% of patients with a functional neurological disorder. Forty-one percent of functional neurological disorder patients, 46% of patients with presumed organic conditions and 70% of healthy controls believed that a deceptive placebo would improve their own symptoms. Healthcare professionals estimated that deceptive placebo treatments would be effective in 31% of purely organic symptoms and in 55% of purely functional symptoms. Major concerns surrounding deceptive placebo involved undermining trust in the medical profession. There was marked scepticism with regards to open-label placebo in all groups, with the general underlying belief that open-label placebo is fairly ineffective.Two-thirds of healthcare professionals had never used deceptive nor open-label placebo. Those who had used it, had done so rarely and mostly for non-specific or functional symptoms or for diagnostic purposes.ConclusionsDespite a generally perceived high effectiveness of deceptive placebo treatments, its prohibition in the UK seems to be in line with general concerns and some strong opposition. Future studies will show if the negative attitude to open-label placebo is justified or if this ethically viable option deserves more consideration.

Background: A new syndrome of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) has emerged as a rare side-effect of vaccination against COVID-19. Cerebral venous thrombosis is the most common manifestation of this syndrome but, to our knowledge, has not previously been described in detail. We aimed to document the features of post-vaccination cerebral venous thrombosis with and without VITT and to assess whether VITT is associated with poorer outcomes. Methods: For this multicentre cohort study, clinicians were asked to submit all cases in which COVID-19 vaccination preceded the onset of cerebral venous thrombosis, regardless of the type of vaccine, interval between vaccine and onset of cerebral venous thrombosis symptoms, or blood test results. We collected clinical characteristics, laboratory results (including the results of tests for anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies where available), and radiological features at hospital admission of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis after vaccination against COVID-19, with no exclusion criteria. We defined cerebral venous thrombosis cases as VITT-associated if the lowest platelet count recorded during admission was below 150 × 109 per L and, if the D-dimer was measured, the highest value recorded was greater than 2000 μg/L. We compared the VITT and non-VITT groups for the proportion of patients who had died or were dependent on others to help them with their activities of daily living (modified Rankin score 3–6) at the end of hospital admission (the primary outcome of the study). The VITT group were also compared with a large cohort of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis described in the International Study on Cerebral Vein and Dural Sinus Thrombosis. Findings: Between April 1 and May 20, 2021, we received data on 99 patients from collaborators in 43 hospitals across the UK. Four patients were excluded because they did not have definitive evidence of cerebral venous thrombosis on imaging. Of the remaining 95 patients, 70 had VITT and 25 did not. The median age of the VITT group (47 years, IQR 32–55) was lower than in the non-VITT group (57 years; 41–62; p=0·0045). Patients with VITT-associated cerebral venous thrombosis had more intracranial veins thrombosed (median three, IQR 2–4) than non-VITT patients (two, 2–3; p=0·041) and more frequently had extracranial thrombosis (31 [44%] of 70 patients) compared with non-VITT patients (one [4%] of 25 patients; p=0·0003). The primary outcome of death or dependency occurred more frequently in patients with VITT-associated cerebral venous thrombosis (33 [47%] of 70 patients) compared with the non-VITT control group (four [16%] of 25 patients; p=0·0061). This adverse outcome was less frequent in patients with VITT who received non-heparin anticoagulants (18 [36%] of 50 patients) compared with those who did not (15 [75%] of 20 patients; p=0·0031), and in those who received intravenous immunoglobulin (22 [40%] of 55 patients) compared with those who did not (11 [73%] of 15 patients; p=0·022). Interpretation: Cerebral venous thrombosis is more severe in the context of VITT. Non-heparin anticoagulants and immunoglobulin treatment might improve outcomes of VITT-associated cerebral venous thrombosis. Since existing criteria excluded some patients with otherwise typical VITT-associated cerebral venous thrombosis, we propose new diagnostic criteria that are more appropriate.

Introduction Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) can cause persisting life-changing dysfunction. There is scarce literature regarding the long-term assessment of CES symptoms, and rarer still is the impact of these symptoms on mental wellbeing investigated. This study assessed the long-term patient reported mental wellbeing outcomes of post-operative CES patients. Methods Patients who underwent surgery for CES between August 2013 and November 2014 were identified using an ethically approved database. They then completed validated questionnaires over the telephone assessing their mental and physical functioning (Short-Form 12 Questionnaire), generating the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Bladder, bowel and sexual function were also assessed using validated questionnaires. MCS scores were compared to both the Scottish mean and previously published cut-offs indicating patients at risk of depression. Correlations of MCS with bladder, bowel, sexual and physical dysfunction were examined and multifactorial regression to predict MCS from these variables analysed. Independent t-tests assessed the mean difference in MCS between patients presenting with incomplete CES (CES-I) and CES with retention (CES-R) and between those with radiologically confirmed and impending CES. Results Forty-six participants with a mean follow-up time of 43 months completed the study. The mean (±SD) MCS was 49 (±11.8) with 22% demonstrating poor mental health related quality of life in comparison to the Scottish mean. Overall, 37% had scores consistent with being at risk for depression with in the last 30 days, and 45% within the last 12 months. MCS was significantly correlated with Urinary Symptoms Profile (USP) score (-0.608), NBDS score (-0.556), ASEX score (-0.349) and PCS score (0.413) with worse bladder, bowel, sexual and physical dysfunction associated with worse MCS score. Multifactorial regression analysis demonstrated both urinary (USP score p = 0.031) and bowel function (NBDS score p = 0.009) to be significant predictive variables of mental health related quality of life. There were no significant mean differences in MCS between those presenting with CES-I and CES-R or those with radiologically complete and impending CES. Discussion This study demonstrates a high frequency of being at risk for depression in patients with CES and identifies outcome measures (physical, sexual and more so bladder and bowel dysfunction) associated with poorer mental wellbeing. Our large cohort and long follow-up highlight that CES patients should be considered at risk of depression, and the need to consider mental health outcomes following CES surgery.

Communication problems (eg, dysphonia, dysfluency and language and articulation disorders), swallowing disorders (dysphagia and globus), cough and upper airway symptoms, resulting from functional neurological disorder (FND), are commonly encountered by speech and language professionals. However, there are few descriptions in the literature of the most effective practical management approaches. This consensus document aims to provide recommendations for assessment and intervention that are relevant to both adults and young people. An international panel of speech and language professionals with expertise in FND were approached to take part. Participants responded individually by email to a set of key questions regarding best practice for assessment and interventions. Next, a video conference was held in which participants discussed and debated the answers to these key questions, aiming to achieve consensus on each issue. Drafts of the collated consensus recommendations were circulated until consensus was achieved. FND should be diagnosed on the basis of positive clinical features. Speech and language therapy for FND should address illness beliefs, self-directed attention and abnormal movement patterns through a process of education, symptomatic treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy within a supportive therapeutic environment. We provide specific examples of these strategies for different symptoms. Speech and language professionals have a key role in the management of people with communication and related symptoms of FND. It is intended that these expert recommendations serve as both a practical toolkit and a starting point for further research into evidence-based treatments.

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Reduced drift rate: a biomarker of impaired information processing in functional movement disorders’, by Sadnicka et al. (doi: 10.1093/brain/awz387).