Conversion Disorder, Conversion Disorder With Weakness/Paralysis, Functional Neurological Disorder, Functional Neurological Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
brain-computer interface, rehabilitation
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a course of rehabilitation using a device called a brain-computer interface can change the level of control people feel over bodily movements, in functional neurological disorder.
Interventions
DEVICEBrain-computer interface rehabilitation
10 sessions of motor imagery rehearsal rehabilitation using a brain-computer interface with functional electrical stimulation and a virtual avatar
Sponsors
King's College London
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* DSM5 diagnosis of motor FND (limb weakness, gait disorder, tremor or dystonia) from a neurologist and/or neuropsychiatrist. * Moderate or severe symptoms (≥4 on Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) scale). * Able to tolerate VR and BCI use. * Age 18 - 60 years. * English speaking.
Exclusion criteria
* Current diagnosis of epilepsy, severe depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, personality disorder, or drug/alcohol dependence/harmful use (defined as meeting DSM-5 criteria) (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview \[MINI\] 7.0). Positive diagnoses on the MINI will be subject to confirmation at clinical interview by a psychiatrist. * Current diagnosis of epilepsy, autistic spectrum disorder, dementia, learning disability (defined as meeting DSM-5 criteria) based on clinical interview by a psychiatrist. * A pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or any other implanted electronic or metallic device. * Current pregnancy. * Non-registration with a GP or failure to consent to sharing of the GP summary care record and any psychiatric assessments held. * Those enrolled in another clinical or research study. * Those unable to give informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in sense of agency over limb movements | Baseline (same day as rehabilitation session 1, immediately before session) and after course of 10 sessions of brain-computer interface rehabilitation (same day as rehabilitation session 10, immediately after session) (intra-subject) | Seven point Likert scale for explicit self-reported sense of agency over limb movements |
Outcome results
None listed