BackgroundFunctional movement disorders (FMDs) are neurological disorders that consist of abnormal and involuntary movements that have no specific organic cause. Given the prevalence of FMDs and the scarcity of information on neurologists' approaches to FMDs, we aimed to assess the neurologists' approaches and clinical practice in managing FMDs in Saudi Arabia. MethodsA validated online questionnaire in English was used. The data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the statistical software IBM SPSS version 22 (SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL). ResultsA total of 231 neurologists completed the study survey. A total of 129 (55.8%) were males. Regarding the predictors for a diagnosis other than FMD, the highest rating predictor was for evidence of physical injury and lack of psychiatric history of psychological stressors, while the lowest rating was for the male gender. Regarding the effective treatment strategies of FMD, the most effective treatment strategy reported by the clinicians was patient education, while the least was alternative or complementary medicine. The management ability of clinicians was generally restricted by cultural beliefs about psychological illnesses and availability of referral services. The reported predictors by clinicians for a better prognosis of FMD include acceptance of the diagnosis by the patient followed by identification and management of psychological stressors and concurrent psychiatric disorder, and supportive social network. Generally, the most used terminology in this study was 'functional movement disorder'. ConclusionsThere is a variation in the approach and clinical practice of FMD among neurologists in Saudi Arabia. Shared knowledge regarding diagnosis and effective management is crucial. Collaborative efforts are required to establish practice guidelines in the future.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.