Metacognitive Therapy and Neuro-physiotherapy as a Treatment for Functional Movement Disorders

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN · Apr 4, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment approach for people with functional movement disorders (FMD), which are conditions that cause unusual movements that don't fit with typical neurological problems and don't show any physical abnormalities in the nervous system. The trial is testing a combination of two therapies: neuro-physiotherapy (NPT), which helps patients regain confidence in their ability to move normally, and metacognitive therapy (MCT), which focuses on changing how patients think about their own mental processes. The goal is to see if combining these therapies can improve treatment outcomes for patients with FMD.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be between 18 and 74 years old and have a confirmed diagnosis of FMD. They should not have other significant neurological or psychiatric conditions that could affect the study. Participants will attend two therapy sessions each week for 10 weeks and also do some practice at home. The researchers will check how effective this treatment is up to 12 months after it ends. If successful, this trial could lead to better care for FMD patients, improving their quality of life and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Clinically established diagnosis of functional movement disorders (FMD) according to the revised Fahn-Williams criteria. Patients with FMD with different phenomenology, i.e. patients with functional myoclonus, dystonia, tremor and functional gait disorders will be included to guarantee generalizability and representativeness of this heterogeneous disorder.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Significant major neuropsychiatric/neurological disorder
• • medical illness with known central nervous system consequences,
• • acute unstable psychiatric diseases,
• • pain disorders,
• • paroxysmal FMD,
• • isolated functional paresis,
• • inability to read and speak German,
• • age \< 18 years. Children with FMD are excluded because they would require age-adjusted assessment and tailored treatment in a specialized neuropediatric unit.