Longitudinal outcome of Functional Neurological Disorder in Children and Adolescents in a Tertiary Care centre from Northern India

FND is common in Indian children and adolescents. Outcome related factors are not well known. With objective to study short-term outcome of FND, prospective, longitudinal, nine months follow-up study of 6-16 years was planned. Socioeconomic, clinical variables, I.Q. and personality traits at baseline and new psychiatric/physical illness, psychosocial factors and comorbidities during follow-up were assessed. Out of 68 children, scholastic (64.7%) and family problems (23.5%) were common psychosocial factors. After nine months,73% achieved remission. Reasons for non-remission were persistence of psychosocial factors and psychiatric comorbidities. A need arises for increasing awareness among general practitioners for early identification and management.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the short-term outcome of functional neurological disorders (FND) in Indian children and adolescents. The results showed that scholastic and family problems were common psychosocial factors. After nine months, 73% of the patients achieved remission, while the reasons for non-remission were the persistence of psychosocial factors and psychiatric comorbidities.