Functional neurological disorder following COVID-19 : results from a Large International Electronic Health Record Database

Berlot, Rok (avtor), Asan, Livia (avtor), Nicholson, Timothy R. (avtor), Stanton, Biba (avtor), Pollak, Thomas A. (avtor), Edwards, Mark J. (avtor)

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: COVID-19, conversion disorder, functional neurological disorder, neuropsychiatric manifestations, risk factors
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 10 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 32, iss .12
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178403
• UDK: 616.8
• ISSN pri članku: 1468-1331
• DOI: 10.1111/ene.70459
• COBISS.SI-ID: 263346435
• Datum objave v RUL: 27.01.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: European journal of neurology
• Skrajšan naslov: Eur. j. neurol.
• Založnik: Wiley, European Academy of Neurology
• ISSN: 1468-1331
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23036377

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Licenca Creative Commons, ki prepoveduje komercialno uporabo, vendar uporabniki ne rabijo upravljati materialnih avtorskih pravic na izpeljanih delih z enako licenco.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: konverzijska motnja, funkcionalna nevrološka motnja, nevropsihiatrične manifestacije, dejavniki tveganja

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0389
• Naslov: Medicinska fizika

• Financer: DFG - German Research Foundation
• Program financ.: Clinician Scientist Programme
• Številka projekta: FU356/12–UMEA