What are Functional neurological disorders (FNDs)?
A functional
neurological disorder (FND) is a medical condition in which patients experience
movement disorders, weakness, blackouts,
sensory symptoms and other neurological symptoms.
A patient
with functional neurological disorder suffers from a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how his brain and body send and/or
receive signals.
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| What are the signs and symptoms of neurological disorder? |
Neurological
Disorders: Historical
Facts, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders
are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, ie the brain,
spinal cord, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, cranial
nerves, autonomic nervous system, musculoskeletal junction, and
muscles.
The most common neurological
disorders include epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementia, as well
as cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke, migraine, and other headache disorders,
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neurological infections, brain tumors,
and neurological disorders caused by malnutrition.
The nervous system can
be affected by infectious diseases caused by germs, viruses (ie, HIV,
intestinal viruses, West Nile virus, zika virus), fungi and parasites.
Neurological symptoms may be caused by the infection or by an immune response.
Historical Facts about Neurological Disorders
The term
"Neuroses" was first used in 1772 by a Scottish physician William Cullen.
Dr. Cullen used the term
"Neuroses" to express disturbances in the nervous system, which he did not find organically
- physically, and then later began to use, to refer to all functional disorders
of the nervous system.
Sigmund Freud, the
spiritual father of analytic psychology at the end of the 19th century, claimed
that there were clear psychological reasons for the neurotic disorders.
Neurological disorders
were first called psychoneurosis and some categories were later identified:
- Hysterical neurosis
- Compulsion neurosis
- Anxiety neurosis
- Phobic neurosis
These terms were
circulated until the 1980s when the term was abandoned and no longer is used as
a defined term for mental disorders.
This term is used in
psychological fields and psychoanalysis, only to distinguish between neurotic
disorders and psychotic disorders and abnormalities.
A new classification of
mental disorders emerged, which looked at the neurotic markers of various
mental disorders, especially in anxiety disorders, somatic conversion disorder,
and in special cases of mood disorders.
Neurological disorders
affect hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Every year approximately
6.2 million people die from stroke, and more than 80% of these deaths occur in
low- or middle-income countries.
More than 50 million
people have epilepsy worldwide. An estimated 47.5 million people with dementia
have 7.7 new cases each year - Alzheimer's is one of the most common
dementia-related diseases, accounting for 60-70% of cases.
The prevalence of
sisterhood is more than 10% worldwide.
Functional Neurological Disorders
(FNDs)
Functional neurological
disorder is a newer and more comprehensive term that includes what some people
call conversion disorders - symptoms of the nervous system that can not be
explained by neurological or other medical conditions.
However, the symptoms
are real and cause obvious imbalance or functional problems.
Signs and symptoms vary,
depending on the type of neurological disorder, and may include certain
patterns.
Functional neurological
disorders affect your movement or your senses, such as the ability to walk,
swallow, or see or hear.
Symptoms may vary in
intensity and may come and go or disappear. However, you cannot produce or
control your symptoms.
The cause of
neurodegenerative disorders is not known. Your condition may be stimulated by
neurological disorders or by the body's reaction to stress or psychological or
physical trauma, but this is not always the case.
Functional neurological
disorders are related to how the brain performs its functions, as well as
damaged brain structures (such as damage caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis,
infection or wound).
Early diagnosis and
treatment, especially situational awareness may help to heal.
Characteristics
of neurological disorders may include:
1. No organic cause.
2. The patient is
diagnosed with neurological disorders and understands his mental state properly (unlike mental patients).
3. Despite the great
influence of the nerve on the behavior of the injured, but does not suffer from
personality disorders
Internal psychological
suffering and external traumatic conditions are a source of concern and
threaten the internal psychological stability of the person.
In response to this
situation, the patient feels the need for protection and activates coping
mechanisms when a threat from an external source arises.
These mechanisms include
the ability to escape or resist.
The internal
threat stems from psychological conflict and contradictions of
opposing psychological forces.
There are motives for
actions or activities that are forbidden in unconsciousness (as sexual or
aggressive motives) and which need to be emptied, in contrast to the presence
of conscience and social ethics and forces that attempt to suppress, modify or
prevent these prohibited motives from moving to consciousness, so as to reduce
the psychological stress caused by it.
Childhood experiences
that cause suffering, have not been properly disposed of or treated, and may
contribute to the inefficient activation of personal defense mechanisms.
These mechanisms fail to
reduce the degree of anxiety and thus cause signs or phenomena to appear.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Neurological
Disorder?
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| Functional neurological disorders -Symptoms and treatment |
Symptoms of Neurological Disorders
The
reflex is similar to the natural reaction, which results from the neurological
state of stress or strain, such as anxiety, distress, negative
thoughts, and physical irritation.
Causes and risk factors of neurological disorders
When to visit a doctor
Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
However,
the reaction of the person with neurotic disorders may be unexpected and may
pose threats that are disproportionate to the level or intensity verb.
Some
special types of symptoms may include:
Anxiety neurosis: Anxiety
and distress are among the most common.
The
person may feel a great deal of fear, causing the patient discomfort, great
stress, and excessive anxiety.
Seizures
may occur with physical signs such as dizziness, dry throat, and the feeling of
suffocation, rapid heartbeat, rapid pulse, and some serious anxiety.
Depressive neurosis: A persistent feeling of depression or
nervousness.
Compulsive neurosis: characterized by the influx of obsessive
thoughts that cause anxiety, and ritual behaviors developed by the patient to
soothe his anxiety.
Hysteric neurosis: Today is called somatization, characterized
by the emergence of physical signs without a clear medical explanation, which
appears in the occurrence of physical stress and psychological
illness.
Traumatic neurosis: also called phobic
neurosis, described in the past as a neurologist.
And
describes the incidence of mental stress is very large, and the decline in
activity because of the exposure to a traumatic event is dangerous to life.
Causes and risk factors of neurological disorders
Biological factors: This phenomenon may be inherited
tendencies, which cause irregular reactions in different places in the brain.
These
reactions are responsible for the appearance of signs that characterize the
accompanying signs that appear when passing through anxiety conditions.
Psychological factors: The prevailing and basic hypothesis here
that the neurosis appears as a reaction to the failure of the internal
psychological system, in coping with the anxiety stemming from great
psychological suffering or may result from the failure of the internal
psychological system to cope with external and surrounding traumatic conditions.
Ambient factors: Discordant disorders may show a mix of the
impact of traumatic experiences in childhood with contemporary lifestyle,
characterized by stress and a lack of confidence in personal, social and
economic factors.
When to visit a doctor
Seek
medical care for the signs and symptoms listed above.
If
the underlying cause is neurological or other medical condition, rapid
diagnosis and treatment may be important.
If
the diagnosis is a functional neurological disorder, treatment may
improve symptoms and help prevent future problems.
You
can begin to visit your primary care physician who may refer you to a
neurologist.
You
may want to bring a family member or friend with you if possible to help you
remember the information provided to you and for support.
Diagnosis of Neurological Disorders
There
are no specific tests for neurotic disorders or functional neurological
disorders.
The
diagnosis usually involves evaluating the current symptoms and excluding any
neurological or medical condition that can cause the symptoms.
Functional neurological
disorders are diagnosed based on the current situation such as certain
patterns of signs and symptoms, and not only on what is hidden, such as the
scarcity of structural changes in MRI or the abnormalities that appear in brain
electrical layout.
The
test and diagnosis usually involves a neurosurgeon but may include a mental
health professional or other psychiatric specialists.
Your doctor may use any of these terms: neurotic disorders, functional neurological
disorders (FNDs) or conversion disorder.
One
of the advantages of the term "functional neurological disorders"
is that it can be used to determine the type of symptoms of neurological
disorders experienced.
For
example, if your symptoms include problems with walking, your doctor may refer
you to a walking disorder or functional impairment.
The
evaluation and assessment may include the following:
Physical examination: The doctor examines you and asks you
detailed questions about your health, signs, and symptoms.
Some
tests can exclude medical disorders or neurological diseases depending on the
cause of your symptoms.
These
choices depend on the signs and symptoms you experience.
Psychological assessment: If appropriate, a neurologist may refer you
to a mental
health professional.
The
doctor will ask you some questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior,
and will discuss your symptoms with you, using the information collected, with
your permission, by family members or others.
Diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 manual: Your doctor or
mental health professional may use the criteria in DSM-5 published by the
American Psychiatric Association to compare your symptoms
The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) illustrates these
criteria for conversion disorder (functional neurological disorder): One
or more of the symptoms that affect the movement of the body or your senses.
Symptoms
cannot be explained by a neurological condition, other medical condition, or
other mental health disorder.
Symptoms
cause obvious imbalance or problems at the social, working or other levels, or
are sufficiently clear where it is best to undergo a medical evaluation.
How to Treat Neurological Disorders
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| Functional neurological disorders -Symptoms and treatment |
Treatment of Neurological Disorders
Treatment
of neurological disorders is a combination of different therapeutic methods.
As
the treatment addresses most of the factors responsible for the emergence and
symptoms of neurosurgery, it is recommended to treat this phenomenon using
antidepressants, behavioral psycho-analytic, pacification, etc.
Treatment
will depend on the type of neurodegenerative syndrome and specific signs and
symptoms.
For
some people, the multidisciplinary approach of a neurologist, psychiatrist,
another mental health specialist, speech therapist, physical and occupational
therapist, or another specialist may be appropriate.
For
some people, education, and reassurance that they do not have a serious medical
problem is the most effective treatment. For others, additional treatments may
be helpful.
Engaging
your loved ones may be helpful so they can understand your situation and can
support.
Your
medical team provides treatment for any neurological or medical illness you may
have and can be a trigger for your symptoms.
Depending
on your needs, treatments may include:
Physical therapy: Working with a natural or professional
therapist may improve symptoms of movement and protect against complications.
For
example, regular movement of arms or legs may prevent muscle tension and
weakness if you are paralyzed or unable to move.
A
gradual increase in exercise may improve your ability to work.
Speech therapy: If your symptoms include speech or
swallowing problems, you may be able to work with a speech therapist (language
and speech therapist).
Stress management: Methods of elimination of stress or
distraction.
Stress
management techniques may include methods such as gradual muscle
relaxation, breathing exercises, physical activity, and exercise.
While
distractions may include music, talking to someone else, or deliberately
changing the way you walk or move.
Mental health options
Although
functional neurodegenerative symptoms are not "all in the head," the
emotions and the way you think about things may have an effect on your symptoms
and recovery.
Psychotherapy
options may include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the types of psychotherapy, helps you to
understand negative or inaccurate thinking so that you can view situations more
clearly and respond more effectively.
Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you learn how to manage your symptoms and
life situations that make better stress. This may be especially helpful if your
symptoms include seizures.
Other
types of psychotherapy may be helpful if you have personal problems or a
history of trauma or abuse.
Treatment of other mental health conditions: Anxiety, depression
or other mental
health disorders can exacerbate symptoms of functional
neurodegenerative disorders.
Treatment
of mental health conditions with functional neurological disorders can help in
recovery.
hypnosis: When performed by a trained professional who is aware
of functional neurodegenerative disorders, individuals who accept suggestions
during hypnosis may benefit if they have symptoms of functional neuropathy,
which includes, for example, loss of sensation or problems with speech.
Medication
Drugs
are not effective in treating functional neurological disorders and the Food
and Drug Administration does not rely on any type of medication as a specific
treatment.
However,
medications such as antidepressants can
also benefit from depression, other mood disorders, or pain or insomnia.
Important:
Learn more
about functional neurological disorders
This can
help you understand what functional neurological disorders are,
and what are the real symptoms and possible improvement in therapeutic options
and recovery.
Symptoms may
improve after clarification of the condition and reassurance of the doctor that
the symptoms occur as a result of a medical problem or neurological latent.
Regular follow-up
Regular
follow-up with your medical team is important for monitoring your recovery and
making changes to your treatment plan as needed.