ABSTRACT
Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a common and disabling disorder that is often considered difficult to treat, particularly in adults. Psychological therapies are often recommended for FND. Outcome research on psychological therapies for FND has grown in recent years but has not been systematically evaluated since 2005. This study aims to build on that by systematically reviewing the evidence-base for individual outpatient cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic psychotherapies for FND. Medical databases were systematically searched for prospective studies of individual outpatient psychotherapy for FND with at least five adult participants. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using a standardised assessment tool. Results were synthesised, and effect sizes calculated for illustrative purposes. The search strategy identified 131 relevant studies, of which 19 were eligible for inclusion: 12 examining cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and 7 investigating psychodynamic therapy (PDT). Eleven were pre-post studies and eight were randomised controlled trials. Most studies recruited a single symptom-based subtype rather than all presentations of FND. Effect sizes, where calculable, showed generally medium-sized benefits for physical symptoms, mental health, well-being, function and resource use for both CBT and PDT. Outcomes were broadly comparable across the two therapy types, although a lack of high-quality controlled trials of PDT is a significant limitation, as is the lack of long-term follow-up data in the majority of identified CBT trials. In conclusion, both CBT and PDT appear to potentially offer some benefit for FND, although better quality studies are needed.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Consistent adherence to treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention following TIA/ischaemic stroke. Representative data on long-term treatment continuation and adherence rates are limited. METHODS: This single centre study recruited patients attending our Rapid Access Stroke Prevention clinic in Ireland from 07/09/2006 â 30/11/2009. Demographic and clinical data, and prescribed medication regimens at initial assessment were recorded. All patients received copies of clinical correspondence containing clear 'goal-directed treatment advice' sent to their general practitioner or referring physician. Patients were subsequently interviewed with a standardised pro-forma to assess continuation and adherence rates; overall adherence rates with secondary prevention therapy were also assessed with a validated self-reporting tool (Morisky Scale). Recurrent vascular events during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen patients were recruited; mean age: 64.5 ± 13.8 years; median duration of follow-up: 630 days. Patients were prescribed aspirin (69.3%), alone (17.5%) or in combination with dipyridamole MR (51.8%), clopidogrel (18.2%), warfarin (16.7%), statins (76.3%) and anti-hypertensives (51.8%). During follow-up, the percentages of patients continuing treatment prescribed at the initial visit were: Aspirin (93.7%), dipyridamole MR (72.9%), clopidogrel (81%), warfarin (94.7%), statins (87.9%) and anti-hypertensives (89.8%). Overall, 99.1% reported taking their medication the preceding day. Morisky scale scores for all treatments revealed that 41.2% (N=47) were high, 36.8% (N=42) medium, and 12.3% (N=14) low adherers; 9.7% (N=11) had incomplete data. Two patients (1.8%) had recurrent cerebrovascular events, and two (1.8%) had myocardial infarctions. DISCUSSION: This novel study in European TIA/ischaemic stroke patients, who were provided with a goal-directed secondary prevention plan, showed high rates of medication-continuation and self-reported adherence with prescribed treatment, associated with a low incidence of recurrent vascular events during a median follow up of 1.7 years.
