Work

Emerging Trends in Functional Movement Disorders Consultations and the Impact of a Major Life Event

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Awareness and major external events can contribute to the number of FMD cases. OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in new Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) consultations and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of FMD new consultations (2014-2024) at a tertiary movement disorders clinic. Trends and the COVID-19 impact were analyzed with linear and segmented regression. Patient characteristics in the pre- and post-pandemic periods were compared. RESULTS: Among 14,587 new consultations, 162 were FMD (79% female, mean age at onset 44.7 ± 18.3 years). FMD consultations increased slowly over time, with a marked surge after 2021. The significant rise was observed during the three years post-pandemic, followed by a return to the pre-pandemic slope. Pre and post-pandemic groups' characteristics were almost similar. CONCLUSIONS: FMD consultations increased over time and significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the influence of increased awareness and external factors.

Source: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice

DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.70348

Authors: Daniel S. Marín‐Medina, Gala Lopez, Malco Rossi, Marcelo Merello

Institutions: Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina

Language: English

Topic: Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4413998058

FWCI: 1.271

Cites: 16

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10