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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Compassion-Focused Therapy for an Older Adult with Motor Functional Neurological Disorder
T2 - A Case Study
AU - Zarotti, Nicolò
AU - Poz, Rebecca
AU - Fisher, Paul
PY - 2023/5/27
Y1 - 2023/5/27
N2 - ObjectivesMotor functional neurological disorder (mFND) is a condition where individuals may experience difficulties such as tremors, gait impairments, and paralysis which are not explained by identified structural damage to the brain. Studies on chronic conditions have suggested that psychological interventions such as compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be effective in improving well-being in people with mFND. However, no evidence is currently available on psychotherapy for older people with mFND.MethodsA 12-session CFT intervention was delivered to an 81-year-old British male with mFND. Standardized measures were administered at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsAt post-intervention, a 30% decrease in perceived psychological impact of mFND was found, along with clinically significant changes in anxiety and depression. Good levels of feasibility and acceptability were also observed.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of CFT for psychological difficulties linked with mFND, as well as the first evidence for any psychotherapy with an older adult with mFND.Clinical ImplicationsCFT shows the potential to be effective, feasible, and acceptable for treating difficulties linked with mFND in older people. However, further high-quality investigations based on experimental designs are needed to build on the present preliminary findings.
AB - ObjectivesMotor functional neurological disorder (mFND) is a condition where individuals may experience difficulties such as tremors, gait impairments, and paralysis which are not explained by identified structural damage to the brain. Studies on chronic conditions have suggested that psychological interventions such as compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be effective in improving well-being in people with mFND. However, no evidence is currently available on psychotherapy for older people with mFND.MethodsA 12-session CFT intervention was delivered to an 81-year-old British male with mFND. Standardized measures were administered at baseline and post-intervention.ResultsAt post-intervention, a 30% decrease in perceived psychological impact of mFND was found, along with clinically significant changes in anxiety and depression. Good levels of feasibility and acceptability were also observed.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of CFT for psychological difficulties linked with mFND, as well as the first evidence for any psychotherapy with an older adult with mFND.Clinical ImplicationsCFT shows the potential to be effective, feasible, and acceptable for treating difficulties linked with mFND in older people. However, further high-quality investigations based on experimental designs are needed to build on the present preliminary findings.
KW - Motor functional neurological disorder
KW - functional motor disorder
KW - compassion-focused therapy
KW - elderly
KW - older adults
KW - psychotherapy
KW - FND
U2 - 10.1080/07317115.2022.2130124
DO - 10.1080/07317115.2022.2130124
M3 - Journal article
VL - 46
SP - 457
EP - 466
JO - Clinical Gerontologist
JF - Clinical Gerontologist
SN - 0731-7115
IS - 3
ER -