Table 6 Clinical outcomes reported and/or expected after treatment with Functional Neurological according to four sources in a scoping review

Chapter 19 p.332–341

Complex regional pain syndrome

At 12 weeks, full recovery of function, persistence of bouts of pain

Migraines and vertigo

Less frequent migraines, resolution of vertigo

ADHD

At 12 weeks, improvement of concentration, reading ability and other academic abilities

Further improvement is expected.

Depression

At 12 weeks, improvement of depressive state

Further improvement is expected with continued treatment.

Low back pain with spinal root compression

At 12 weeks, pain free, but persistent episodes of numbness

Post manipulative therapy symptoms

At 12 weeks, resolution of imbalance and headaches, reduction of the other symptoms including confusion

Further improvement or even resolution is expected with continued treatment.

Pedro (2005) [41]

Landau-Kleffner syndrome (case report)

At 12 weeks, improvement of language, auditory and motor skills

Beck (2009) [42]

Complex regional pain syndrome (case report)

At 12 weeks, full recovery of function, but persistence of bouts of pain

At 1 year, functional recovery is maintained, episodes of pain are reported.

Bova (2013) [43]

Cervical dystonia (case report)

Functional improvement, decrease of spasmodic torticollis

Kuhn (2013) [44]

Migraines, ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s syndrome (case report)

At 19 weeks, migraines were gone, tics and, learning and behavioral capacities were improved

Hirsh (2013) [46]

ADHD, primary nocturnal enuresis, and musculoskeletal pain (case report)

At 18 weeks, improvement of behavior, confidence, and posture

No more difficulty in daytime urinary control

At 3 months, occasional bed wetting and improvements in various activities of daily living

Esposito (2013) [48]

Symptoms related to traumatic brain injury (case report)

At 10 weeks, improvement of balance, cognitive abilities, mood, and anxiety

Decrease of the number and severity of physical complaints

Bova (2014) [45]

Parkinson’s disease (case report)

At 2 months, improvement of posture, function and well-being

At 10 months, treatment is continued twice per week for maintenance care with stable results.

NB: Relapse was observed when treatment was reduced to once per week.

Bova (2014) [40]

Idiopathic paresthesia (case report)

At 2 weeks, symptom free after 2 visits

Traster (2014) [47]

Symptoms related to traumatic brain injury (case report)

At 3 months, recovery of vibration sense, free of dysesthesia, and improvement of balance and gait

Website 1

Unspecified

Relief or resolution of patient’s symptom(s)

Symptoms related to traumatic brain injury

Resolution

Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and ADD / ADHD

Improvement

Website 2

Unspecified

Relief of patient’s symptom(s)

Website 3

Unspecified

Significant relief or resolution of patient’s symptom(s)

Migraines, and Post-concussion symptoms

Resolution

Website 4

Unspecified

Relief or resolution of patient’s symptom(s)

Website 5

Unspecified

Profound relief or resolution of patient’s symptom(s)

Informant 1

Most of the conditions

Improvements of patient’s symptom(s), usually after 2 to 3 visits

Vertigo

“Good”, usually after 2 to 3 visits

Tinnitus

Less constant, usually after 2 to 3 visits

Informant 2

Most of the conditions

“Good”, usually after 2 to 3 weeks of treatment

Neurodegenerative diseases, tremor disorders, high “fatigability” of the nervous system

Less constant and longer to observe

Informant 3

Reversible or “functional” conditions (e.g. vertigo, balance issues, headaches)

“Good”, and potentially stable, after 3 to 4 visits

Irreversible conditions

Results concerning some of the symptom(s) of the patient’s pathology, take longer to achieve, and stable with maintenance care.

Informant 4

Most of the conditions

Improvement, usually transitory, of some of the patient’s symptom(s)

Any pediatric conditions (e.g. ADD, cerebral palsy), and post-stroke symptoms, and chronic musculoskeletal disorders

Results are better than those described for the other conditions in adults. For children, results are also more stable.