Feasibility Study of Physiotherapy for Functional Motor Symptoms
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Randomised Feasibility Study of a Physiotherapy Programme for Patients with Functional Motor Symptoms
IRAS ID
130206
Contact name
Glenn Nielsen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Functional motor symptoms (FMS), also known as psychogenic symptoms or conversion disorder, are part of the spectrum of neurological symptoms that are not caused by recognisable organic disease. FMS are common and are associated with high levels of physical disability, high health care costs and unemployment. Prognosis is considered poor and treatment options are limited. Physiotherapy is widely considered an essential part of treatment, yet evidence is limited and physiotherapists rate their knowledge in this area as low.
Research and development as well as provision of physiotherapy for FMS have been limited by a number of key gaps in the literature. These are that treatment has not been based on coherent pathophysiological models, that interventions have been poorly specified, there is a lack of evidence for the most appropriate outcome measures and as a result there is inadequate data on which to base sample size calculations. Evidence is also lacking on patient acceptability of physiotherapy.
We therefore plan a feasibility study of a physiotherapy intervention in patients with FMS which will address these key gaps in the current evidence base. Stemming from over a year of development work, we will implement a carefully specified physiotherapy intervention based on current pathophysiological understanding of FMS in patients randomised to receive this intervention or standard care. We will collect a range of outcome measures and will assess the feasibility and acceptability of randomisation, treatment and follow up assessments. We will also study patients’ experiences and perceptions using qualitative methods. The physiotherapy intervention and all data collection will be carried out at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, in the Day Hospital. Patients will be recruited from neurology outpatient clinics and followed up at 6 months, at which point they will leave the study and re-enter usual treatment pathways.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0573
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion