Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders

ABSTRACT The diagnosis of functional neurological disorders is a major challenge in neurologist practice. Some clinical strategies can facilitate the recognition of functional disorders, but several pitfalls make their diagnosis difficult. Here we highlight the following points of attention during e...

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Main Authors: Lucio Huebra Pimentel Filho, Eduardo Genaro Mutarelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações 2022-08-01
Series:Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2022000700324&tlng=en
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author Lucio Huebra Pimentel Filho
Eduardo Genaro Mutarelli
author_facet Lucio Huebra Pimentel Filho
Eduardo Genaro Mutarelli
author_sort Lucio Huebra Pimentel Filho
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The diagnosis of functional neurological disorders is a major challenge in neurologist practice. Some clinical strategies can facilitate the recognition of functional disorders, but several pitfalls make their diagnosis difficult. Here we highlight the following points of attention during evaluation of patients with functional disorder: not all bizarre behavior is functional; not every event triggered by an emotional factor is a functional disorder; not every topographic incongruity is a functional disorder; patients may present functional and organic symptoms at the same time; psychiatric comorbid condition is not always evident in the history of a functional disorder; problematic communication at the time of diagnosis can compromise treatment and prognosis. In conclusion, we emphasize that special attention to these possible pitfalls facilitate the correct diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorders.
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publishDate 2022-08-01
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series Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
spelling doaj-art-e1c612724f3f43ae9c76f19545bce7e42025-08-20T02:04:21ZengThieme Revinter PublicaçõesArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria1678-42272022-08-01805 suppl 132432710.1590/0004-282x-anp-2022-s120Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disordersLucio Huebra Pimentel Filhohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1543-0711Eduardo Genaro Mutarellihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3859-4150ABSTRACT The diagnosis of functional neurological disorders is a major challenge in neurologist practice. Some clinical strategies can facilitate the recognition of functional disorders, but several pitfalls make their diagnosis difficult. Here we highlight the following points of attention during evaluation of patients with functional disorder: not all bizarre behavior is functional; not every event triggered by an emotional factor is a functional disorder; not every topographic incongruity is a functional disorder; patients may present functional and organic symptoms at the same time; psychiatric comorbid condition is not always evident in the history of a functional disorder; problematic communication at the time of diagnosis can compromise treatment and prognosis. In conclusion, we emphasize that special attention to these possible pitfalls facilitate the correct diagnosis and management of functional neurological disorders.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2022000700324&tlng=enClinical DiagnosisSomatoform DisordersDiagnostic Errors
spellingShingle Lucio Huebra Pimentel Filho
Eduardo Genaro Mutarelli
Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
Clinical Diagnosis
Somatoform Disorders
Diagnostic Errors
title Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
title_full Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
title_fullStr Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
title_short Diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
title_sort diagnostic pitfalls in functional neurological disorders
topic Clinical Diagnosis
Somatoform Disorders
Diagnostic Errors
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2022000700324&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT luciohuebrapimentelfilho diagnosticpitfallsinfunctionalneurologicaldisorders
AT eduardogenaromutarelli diagnosticpitfallsinfunctionalneurologicaldisorders