Calderbank, A., Gray, C., Morgan-Boon, A. et al. (1 more author) (2023) Changes in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms with integrative psychotherapy for functional neurological symptom disorder. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 35 (4). pp. 398-403. ISSN 0895-0172
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Patients with functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) report high rates of traumatization and have high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Psychotherapy is a mainstay of treatment for persons with FNSD. In this study, the investigators explored changes in PTSD symptoms and health-related quality of life after psychotherapy among persons with FNSD and examined factors contributing to these changes.
METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for patients with FNSD attending a specialist outpatient psychotherapy service in the United Kingdom (N=210) as part of an ongoing routine service evaluation. Pre- and posttherapy questionnaires included self-report measures of PTSD symptoms (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety symptoms (General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale), somatic symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-15), health-related quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey-36), and social functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale). Independent contributions to psychotherapy-related changes in PTSD symptoms and health-related quality of life were explored through multivariate analyses.
RESULTS: All outcome measures revealed improvements after psychotherapy (p<0.001). Psychotherapy-related changes in depression and somatic symptoms and employment status at baseline explained 51% of the variance in PTSD symptom changes. Changes in PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and somatic symptoms made independent contributions to improvements in health-related quality of life (R2=0.54). Improvements were unrelated to FNSD subtype (dissociative seizures or other FNSD), age, marital status, or number of sessions attended.
CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in self-reported PTSD, depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, as well as improved health-related quality of life, were observed among patients who received one or more sessions of psychotherapy. Randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy for patients with FNSD are warranted.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 American Psychiatric Association. |
Keywords: | Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder; Health-Related Quality of Life; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychosomatic Disorders; Psychotherapy; Somatic Symptoms; Humans; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Quality of Life; Medically Unexplained Symptoms; Psychotherapy; Anxiety Disorders |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Medicine and Population Health |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 09 Sep 2024 11:47 |
Last Modified: | 09 Sep 2024 11:47 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Psychiatric Association Publishing |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21070184 |
Related URLs: | |
Sustainable Development Goals: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:216988 |