Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39210327›Full record

Observational studyBMC neurology2024

Opinions and experience of neurologists and neurology trainees in Saudi Arabia on functional neurological disorders: a survey based study.

Sohaila Alshimemeri, Fatima Alabandi, Rahaf S Binabbad, Hend Saleh Elmutawi, Ghada Saleh Alabdi, Gabriela Gilmour

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Functional neurological disorders among hospitalized patients in a resource-limited setting: current situation in Colombia and paths to improvement.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Article
  2. Functional neurological disorder: Practical management.Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sohaila AlshimemeriNeurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Salshimemeri@ksu.edu.sa.
Fatima AlabandiCollege of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland.
Rahaf S BinabbadNeurology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hend Saleh ElmutawiCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ghada Saleh AlabdiCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Gabriela GilmourDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Cumming School of medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFunctional Neurological Disorder (FND) is commonly encountered in clinical practice, causing functional impairment and poor quality of life. As there is limited data from Saudi Arabia, our study aims to explore the experience and opinions of Saudi neurologists and neurology trainees regarding FND.

methodsIn our cross-sectional observational study, we included 100 neurology consultants and trainees. Data was collected using an online questionnaire from March to August 2023.

resultsA total of one hundred neurologists participated in the survey. Although 41% of physicians encountered FND patients on a weekly basis or more frequently, only 41.7% of trainees reported receiving dedicated lectures on FND. Furthermore, only 46% of respondents felt comfortable providing a clear explanation of the FND diagnosis to their patients. While the majority (64%) used the term "Functional Neurological Disorder" in medical documentation, only 43% used this term when communicating the diagnosis to patients, with the terminology varying widely. Clinicians emphasized that inconsistent and variable neurological examinations were key indicators raising diagnostic suspicion, which aligns with the recommended reliance on detailed clinical history and neurological examination. Lastly, 61% of physicians stated that their approach to patients with FND lacked a structured management plan.

conclusionOur study findings emphasize that FND is commonly encountered in clinical practice and reveal a significant lack of targeted education on FND for neurology trainees. Enhancing educational programs for both trainees and practicing neurologists on this prevalent neurological condition is essential for improving patient care and outcomes.

Indexed as

Nervous System DiseasesNeurologistsNeurologyAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSaudi ArabiaSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID39210327
PMCPMC11361174

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.