Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41190597›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of neurology2025

The Impact of Pregnancy on Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Alexander Lehn, Ingrid Hoeritzauer, Caoimhe McLoughlin, Jon Stone, Syeda Farah Zahir, Jan Coebergh, Yvonne Leavy, Adam Morton, David Palmer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

9 authors.

Alexander LehnDepartment of Neurology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3551-7010
Ingrid HoeritzauerCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Caoimhe McLoughlinCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Jon StoneCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Syeda Farah ZahirQCIF Biostatistics, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Jan CoeberghDepartment of Neurology, Ashford St. Peter's Hospitals NHS FoundationTrust, Chertsey, UK.
Yvonne LeavyDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Infirmary Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Adam MortonUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
David PalmerDepartment of Neurology, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFunctional neurological disorder (FND) commonly affects women of reproductive age, yet little is known about its interaction with pregnancy and childbirth. We aimed to explore FND symptom changes during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period and understand women's experiences of care.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey of women with FND who had experienced pregnancy. The questionnaire was co-designed with clinicians and individuals with lived experience.

resultsOf 111 respondents, 61 had experienced pregnancy after FND onset. Among 88 who provided onset data, 24% reported symptom onset during pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum, with 1 in 10 reporting onset specifically during the peripartum period. Seven participants described symptom onset or worsening following neuraxial (epidural/spinal) anaesthesia. On a group level, there was no significant change in FND symptoms across pregnancy phases or postpartum. FND symptoms did not worsen with vaginal delivery versus caesarean section. However, women who experienced hyperemesis gravidarum, daily headaches, or instrumented vaginal delivery were more likely to report FND symptom worsening. Although 35% expressed concern about FND during pregnancy and 13% changed pregnancy plans because of FND, the majority reported no difficulties with infant care or breastfeeding. Most participants (85%) received no FND-specific advice regarding pregnancy, and health professionals were generally perceived to have limited knowledge of FND.

conclusionsWhile FND symptoms remain stable for most women during pregnancy, a subgroup experiences significant changes or new onset. There is an urgent need for prospective studies and for developing educational resources to guide care in this understudied area.

Indexed as

Conversion DisorderNervous System DiseasesPregnancy ComplicationsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDelivery, ObstetricFemaleHumansPostpartum PeriodPregnancySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultfunctional neurological disorderpatient surveyperinatal mental healthpregnancysymptom change

Identifiers

PMID41190597
PMCPMC12587305

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.