Exploring Functional Paralysis with Advanced Magnetic Resonance Modalities

Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

Status: Completed

Conditions: Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder; Conversion Disorder with Weakness/Paralysis; Paralysis

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: NETWORK

Identifiers

NCT05139732

2021-10

Details and patient eligibility

About

In functional neurological disorder (FND), neurological symptoms are present, such as paralysis, weakness and disturbed sensation of limbs, although clinically no abnormalities can be found. It is a poorly understood disorder with uncertain diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. In this study, the subtype functional paralysis is investigated with advanced neuroimaging techniques that go beyond standard clinical examinations. In previous research on FND, healthy volunteers have generally been used as a control group. However, since people with functional paralysis have similar symptoms to people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), it is intended to compare the three groups to find similarities and differences. With the proposed methods, the goal is to gain a detailed understanding of FND regarding nerve cell metabolism, diffusion pathways and neuronal networks involved in cognitive processes such as motor inhibition (reaction or no reaction depending on situation). Neurophysiological data, clinical assessments and questionnaires are carried out in addition to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

The aim is to enrol 75 participants in this study, i.e. 25 people with FND, 25 people with SCI and 25 healthy control subjects.

The overall goal of the study is to find markers for FND for use in future studies to improve diagnosis and individualise therapy recommendation for both people with SCI and people with FND. Therefore, this study is a relevant step to understand FND and to diagnose this specific disease using objective MRI based diagnostic tools.

Enrollment: 69 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18-65

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindication for magnetic resonance examinations (e.g. cardiac pacemaker, pregnancy, etc.)
• history of mental or neurological illness (addiction, central nervous system tumour and severe craniocerebral trauma)
• unable to hold a pen due to paralysis

Trial design

69 participants in 3 patient groups

control

Description:

Healthy participants

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

Description:

People with the subtype functional paralysis

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Description:

Incomplete and complete paralysis with the ability to hold a pen

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)