How has the COVID pandemic affected functional neurological disorder? A mixed-methods analysis

The impact of recurrent Covid-19 waves on patients with Functional Movement Disorders: A follow-up study

“…In comparison with HC, pain worsened significantly more in FMDs, whereas anxiety and depression worsened significantly more in HC than FMDs. Our results were in line with previous studies reporting a substantial stability of MS in FMDs during pandemic, despite increased anxiety [9] . Through a self-controlled follow-up study, we aimed at investigating the impact of a longstanding pandemic and social restrictions recurrently imposed over time on the same cohort of FMDs patients, investigating MS, NMS, and GHS at the end of the third Covid-19 wave.…”

The impact of lockdown on Functional Motor Disorders patients during the first COVID-19 outbreak: acase-control study

“…In line with previous studies, our results confirm that motor symptoms remained stable in the majority of patients [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. In contrast with previous findings, our cohort of patients showed stable NMS [ [4] , [5] , [6] ].…”

“…In line with previous studies, our results confirm that motor symptoms remained stable in the majority of patients [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. In contrast with previous findings, our cohort of patients showed stable NMS [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. Moreover, compared to controls, only pain worsened significantly more in patients, possibly representing a specific manifestation of the stress related to COVID-19 in FMD patients, while anxiety and depression worsened significantly more in controls.…”

“…The 2019-Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the severe restrictions adopted during lockdown to limit virus diffusion, might have been expected to exacerbate functional symptoms, also given the increased psychological distress, depression and stress reported in the general population [ 3 ]. Interestingly, despite increased levels of NMSs in FMDs, particularly anxiety [ [4] , [5] , [6] ], functional motor symptoms have not been clearly reported to worsen during lockdown [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. However, the available studies were limited by the lack of a control group [ [4] , [5] , [6] ] or by a small sample size [ [4] , [5] , [6] ].…”

“…Interestingly, despite increased levels of NMSs in FMDs, particularly anxiety [ [4] , [5] , [6] ], functional motor symptoms have not been clearly reported to worsen during lockdown [ [4] , [5] , [6] ]. However, the available studies were limited by the lack of a control group [ [4] , [5] , [6] ] or by a small sample size [ [4] , [5] , [6] ].…”