Benedetta Demartini1, Federica Bombieri2, Diana Goeta3, Orsola Gambini4, Lucia Ricciardi5, Michele Tinazzi2. 1. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Unità di Psichiatria II, A.O. San Paolo, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milano, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Italy. Electronic address: benedetta.demartini@unimi.it. 2. Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento, Università di Verona, Italy. 3. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Unità di Psichiatria II, A.O. San Paolo, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milano, Italy. 4. Dipartimento di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Unità di Psichiatria II, A.O. San Paolo, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milano, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Research Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Italy. 5. Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George's University of London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: for a proportion of patients with functional motor symptoms (FMS), specific physiotherapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment. Aim of the present study was to assess in a sample of patients with FMS the efficacy of a physical therapy-based telemedicine programme on the motor symptoms themselves and on some psychological variables such as anxiety, depression, alexithymia and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: eighteen patients were recruited. The programme consisted of 24 sessions: three face-to-face sessions (at week 0 (T0), 12 (T1) and 24 (T2)) and 21 tele-sessions. Each session included education, movement retraining exercises and development of a management plan. All patients underwent the following assessment at T0, T1 and T2: Psychogenic movement disorders rating scale (PMDRS), assessment of depression, anxiety, alexithymia and quality of life. Self-assessment of outcome (CGI) was recorded at T1 and T2. RESULTS: On the CGI improvement was reported by 66,7% of patients at T1 and 77,8% at T2. A significant improvement over the three time points was shown for PMDRS and for the following domains of the SF-36: general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health. CONCLUSION: the use of two innovative approaches for FMS (physiotherapy and telemedicine), combined together, might have a valuable role in the treatment of this neuropsychiatric condition.
INTRODUCTION: for a proportion of patients with functional motor symptoms (FMS), specific physiotherapy has recently emerged as a promising treatment. Aim of the present study was to assess in a sample of patients with FMS the efficacy of a physical therapy-based telemedicine programme on the motor symptoms themselves and on some psychological variables such as anxiety, depression, alexithymia and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: eighteen patients were recruited. The programme consisted of 24 sessions: three face-to-face sessions (at week 0 (T0), 12 (T1) and 24 (T2)) and 21 tele-sessions. Each session included education, movement retraining exercises and development of a management plan. All patients underwent the following assessment at T0, T1 and T2: Psychogenic movement disorders rating scale (PMDRS), assessment of depression, anxiety, alexithymia and quality of life. Self-assessment of outcome (CGI) was recorded at T1 and T2. RESULTS: On the CGI improvement was reported by 66,7% of patients at T1 and 77,8% at T2. A significant improvement over the three time points was shown for PMDRS and for the following domains of the SF-36: general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health. CONCLUSION: the use of two innovative approaches for FMS (physiotherapy and telemedicine), combined together, might have a valuable role in the treatment of this neuropsychiatric condition.
Authors: Mark Hallett; Selma Aybek; Barbara A Dworetzky; Laura McWhirter; Jeffrey P Staab; Jon Stone Journal: Lancet Neurol Date: 2022-04-14 Impact factor: 59.935