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Dissociation and its biological and clinical associations in functional neurological disorder: : systematic review and meta-analysis

Campbell, Malcolm C. ; Smakowski, Abigail ; Rojas-Aguiluz, Maya ; Goldstein, Laura H. ; Cardeña, Etzel LU orcid ; Nicholson, Timothy R. ; Reinders, Anje A. T. S. and Pick, Susannah (2023) In BJ Psych Open 9(e2). p.1-19
Abstract
Background
Studies have reported elevated rates of dissociative symptoms and comorbid dissociative disorders in functional neurological disorder (FND); however, a comprehensive review is lacking.
Aims
To systematically review the severity of dissociative symptoms and prevalence of comorbid dissociative disorders in FND and summarise their biological and clinical associations.
Method
We searched Embase, PsycInfo and MEDLINE up to June 2021, combining terms for FND and dissociation. Studies were eligible if reporting dissociative symptom scores or rates of comorbid dissociative disorder in FND samples. Risk of bias was appraised using modified Newcastle–Ottawa criteria. The findings were
synthesised qualitatively and... (More)
Background
Studies have reported elevated rates of dissociative symptoms and comorbid dissociative disorders in functional neurological disorder (FND); however, a comprehensive review is lacking.
Aims
To systematically review the severity of dissociative symptoms and prevalence of comorbid dissociative disorders in FND and summarise their biological and clinical associations.
Method
We searched Embase, PsycInfo and MEDLINE up to June 2021, combining terms for FND and dissociation. Studies were eligible if reporting dissociative symptom scores or rates of comorbid dissociative disorder in FND samples. Risk of bias was appraised using modified Newcastle–Ottawa criteria. The findings were
synthesised qualitatively and dissociative symptom scores were included in a meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42020173263).
Results
Seventy-five studies were eligible (FND n = 3940; control n = 3073), most commonly prospective case–control studies (k = 54). Dissociative disorders were frequently comorbid in FND. Psychoform dissociation was elevated in FND compared with healthy (g = 0.90, 95% CI 0.66–1.14, I2 = 70%) and neurological
controls (g = 0.56, 95% CI 0.19–0.92, I2 = 67%). Greater psychoform dissociation was observed in FND samples with seizure symptoms versus healthy controls (g = 0.94, 95% CI 0.65–1.22, I2 = 42%) and FND samples with motor symptoms (g = 0.40, 95% CI −0.18 to 1.00, I2 = 54%). Somatoform dissociation was elevated in FND versus healthy controls (g = 1.80, 95% CI 1.25–2.34,
I2 = 75%). Dissociation in FND was associated with more severe functional symptoms, worse quality of life and brain alterations.
Conclusions
Our findings highlight the potential clinical utility of assessing patients with FND for dissociative symptomatology. However, fewer studies investigated FND samples with motor symptoms and heterogeneity between studies and risk of bias were high. Rigorous investigation of the prevalence, features and mechanistic relevance of dissociation in FND is needed. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
functional neurological disorders, conversion disorder, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, dissociative disorders, dissociation
in
BJ Psych Open
volume
9
issue
e2
pages
19 pages
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85143776879
ISSN
2056-4724
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
57c32184-8541-469a-83b7-fc657bc949f8
date added to LUP
2023-01-16 08:05:06
date last changed
2023-01-17 04:03:18
@article{57c32184-8541-469a-83b7-fc657bc949f8,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>Studies have reported elevated rates of dissociative symptoms and comorbid dissociative disorders in functional neurological disorder (FND); however, a comprehensive review is lacking.<br/>Aims<br/>To systematically review the severity of dissociative symptoms and prevalence of comorbid dissociative disorders in FND and summarise their biological and clinical associations.<br/>Method<br/>We searched Embase, PsycInfo and MEDLINE up to June 2021, combining terms for FND and dissociation. Studies were eligible if reporting dissociative symptom scores or rates of comorbid dissociative disorder in FND samples. Risk of bias was appraised using modified Newcastle–Ottawa criteria. The findings were<br/>synthesised qualitatively and dissociative symptom scores were included in a meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42020173263).<br/>Results<br/>Seventy-five studies were eligible (FND n = 3940; control n = 3073), most commonly prospective case–control studies (k = 54). Dissociative disorders were frequently comorbid in FND. Psychoform dissociation was elevated in FND compared with healthy (g = 0.90, 95% CI 0.66–1.14, I2 = 70%) and neurological<br/>controls (g = 0.56, 95% CI 0.19–0.92, I2 = 67%). Greater psychoform dissociation was observed in FND samples with seizure symptoms versus healthy controls (g = 0.94, 95% CI 0.65–1.22, I2 = 42%) and FND samples with motor symptoms (g = 0.40, 95% CI −0.18 to 1.00, I2 = 54%). Somatoform dissociation was elevated in FND versus healthy controls (g = 1.80, 95% CI 1.25–2.34,<br/>I2 = 75%). Dissociation in FND was associated with more severe functional symptoms, worse quality of life and brain alterations.<br/>Conclusions<br/>Our findings highlight the potential clinical utility of assessing patients with FND for dissociative symptomatology. However, fewer studies investigated FND samples with motor symptoms and heterogeneity between studies and risk of bias were high. Rigorous investigation of the prevalence, features and mechanistic relevance of dissociation in FND is needed.}},
  author       = {{Campbell, Malcolm C. and Smakowski, Abigail and Rojas-Aguiluz, Maya and Goldstein, Laura H. and Cardeña, Etzel and Nicholson, Timothy R. and Reinders, Anje A. T. S. and Pick, Susannah}},
  issn         = {{2056-4724}},
  keywords     = {{functional neurological disorders; conversion disorder; psychogenic non-epileptic seizures; dissociative disorders; dissociation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{e2}},
  pages        = {{1--19}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{BJ Psych Open}},
  title        = {{Dissociation and its biological and clinical associations in functional neurological disorder: : systematic review and meta-analysis}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/134850803/dissociation_and_its_biological_and_clinical_associations_in_functional_neurological_disorder_systematic_review_and_meta_analysis.pdf}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}