Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the neuropsychiatric evaluations in patients with functional movement disorders.

Background: Functional movement disorders include a group of movement disorders that cannot be explained by organic reasons. There are several clues, including sudden onset, incongruous symptoms, distractibility, suggestibility and lack of response to otherwise effective pharmacological therapies.

Method: This study was designed prospectively. Twenty-one patients (16 females / 5 males) diagnosed with functional movement disorder were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded. Phenomenology of the movement disorder is determined. Beck Depression Scale (BDS), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS), Body Image Scale (BIS), Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), short form of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-SF) were completed in all patients included in the study.

Results: The mean age of patients was 31,8 (18-53) years. Tremor was the most frequent functional movement disorder. Only 5 patients had a prior history of psychiatric disorder. The mean BDS score was 17,2 and the BAS score was 18,2; so these patients had a tendency to depression and anxiety. BSI scores showed that these patients were dissatisfied with their body image. Moreover, the results of BPAQ and BIS-SF suggested aggression and impulsivity.

Conclusion: Functional movement disorders are not only diagnostic challenges but also hard to treat. Psychiatric evaluations are necessary both for diagnosis and treatment. In our study, all psychiatric scales were affected. The results of this study highlight the importance of collaboration of neurology and psychiatry for the treatment of this condition.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuropsychiatric-evaluation-in-patients-with-functionel-movements-disorders/