Evaluation of LiNES: A New Measure of Trauma, Negative Affect, and Relationship Insecurity Over the Life Span in Persons With FND

What is it about?

Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) are symptoms of altered sensation, perception, or self-control that occur in the absence of changes on tests of the structure of the nervous system or neurological disease. FND have been associated with previous trauma although an important subgroup of patients deny a history of traumatization. FND are the second commonest reason individuals will consult a neurologist in the United Kingdom, and cause as much disability and distress as other neurological disorders with similar symptoms. This study uses the novel and easy-to-complete Lifespan Negative Experiences Scale (LiNES) to examine factors that could be important in making individuals vulnerable to developing FND. Here we used LiNES retrospectively to assess self-reported experiences of interpersonal trauma, negative emotions and relationship security during childhood, adolescence and adulthood in individuals with FND and healthy controls. Our study showed that LiNES correlated well more detailed and established measures of trauma, emotional problems and relationship insecurity and that individuals with FND experience greater levels of trauma throughout their life, as well as greater levels of negative emotions and relationship insecurity in adulthood. LiNES emerges as a potentially useful tool for screening patients with FND for potentially relevant predisposing, precipitating, or perpetuating factors or for stratifying patients with FND in research settings.

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