Similarities and Differences in Functional Movement Disorders and Functional Seizures at a Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) and functional seizure (FS) are the two most important subcategories of functional neurologic disorders (FNDs).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to discern similarities and differences between patients with FMD and FS.

METHODS

A prospective comparative study of 94 patients with FNDs (FMD = 47, FS = 47) was conducted.

RESULTS

Tremor and pauci-kinetic attack with preserved responsiveness were the most common subtypes observed in patients with FMD and FS, respectively. A significantly higher number of patients with FMD had more than one precipitating factor (P = 0.03). Headache was significantly more common in patients with FS (P = 0.03). More patients came for follow-up in the FMD group (P = 0.01). More patients in the FS group reported "very much improvement" (P = 0.04), and "no change" was more commonly reported by the FMD group patients (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Emotional stress was the most common precipitating factor in patients with FMD and FS. The prognosis was better in patients with FS.