| Title: | Functional neurological disorder following COVID-19 : results from a Large International Electronic Health Record Database |
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| Authors: | ID Berlot, Rok (Author)
ID Asan, Livia (Author)
ID Nicholson, Timothy R. (Author)
ID Stanton, Biba (Author)
ID Pollak, Thomas A. (Author)
ID Edwards, Mark J. (Author) |
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| Files: |  PDF - Presentation file, download (426,08 KB)
MD5: F3A6AC715DFAD71C3F81DDB91D10ACE7
 URL - Source URL, visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.70459
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  UKC LJ - Ljubljana University Medical Centre
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| Abstract: | Background: Following COVID-19, an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric sequelae has been reported. Viral illnesses commonly trigger functional neurological disorder (FND). However, mechanisms beyond immediate biological effects may contribute to FND after COVID-19. While FND cases have been observed after COVID-19, the overall risk and contributing factors remain unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the rates of FND post-COVID-19 to other respiratory tract infections (RTIs), assessed the influence of disease severity, and the characteristics of newly diagnosed patients. Methods: We used TriNetX, a global electronic health record network. In total, 2,740,094 COVID-19 cases and 1846 post-COVID-19 FND cases were analysed. We compared FND incidence between 2 weeks and 6 months after COVID-19 to other RTIs and across cohorts of varying COVID-19 severity. Characteristics of individuals with new diagnoses of FND and migraine following COVID-19 were compared. Results: The incidence of FND was higher in COVID-19 patients with records of hospitalisation (OR 2.165; 95% CI 1.691-2.773) and emergency department visits (OR 1.412; 95% CI 1.069-1.864). Incidence was higher following COVID-19 compared to other RTIs, both in the first 2 years of the pandemic (0.033 vs. 0.021%, OR 1.555, 95% CI 1.271-1.902) and subsequently (0.038 vs. 0.027%, OR 1.394, 95% CI 1.173-1.657). Medical, neurological, and psychiatric comorbidities were more common in newly diagnosed post-COVID-19 FND compared to migraine. Conclusions: New-onset FND appears more likely after COVID-19 than other RTIs. Both the severity of the triggering illness and pre-existing individual vulnerability may contribute to the development of FND. |
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| Keywords: | COVID-19, conversion disorder, functional neurological disorder, neuropsychiatric manifestations, risk factors |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 1-10 |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 32, issue 12 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-28889  |
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| UDC: | 616.8 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1468-1331 |
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| DOI: | 10.1111/ene.70459 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 263346435 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 5. 1. 2026;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 10.04.2026 |
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| Views: | 36 |
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| Downloads: | 18 |
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