Help-seeking in A&E for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): a mixed methods study of patient experiences of a war on two fronts.

IF 1.9 3区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Psychology & Health Pub Date : 2025-04-14 DOI:10.1080/08870446.2025.2491589

Zachary Chan, Jane Ogden, Shelley Cummings, Bethan Garner, Mohammad Arbabi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: This mixed-method study aimed to i) describe characteristics of those who attend A&E frequently (FAs) with and without Functional Neurological Disorder (FND); ii) to explore patients' with FND's experiences of help-seeking in A&E.

Methods and measures: First, a database of NHS FAs (10+ times in a year; n = 99) from one hospital was analysed. Next, FAs with FND (n = 6) were interviewed about their help-seeking.

Results: From stage 1, 61% of all FAs were female, had visited A&E a mean of 16 times in the past 12 months and had been referred to a wide range of clinics. No significant differences were found between FND (n = 11) and non FND patients (n = 88). In Stage 2, thematic analysis described four main themes: i) 'symptom experience'; ii) 'feelings of isolation'; iii) 'Healthcare Professional (HCP) barriers to care'; iv) 'HCP perseverance'. Transcending these themes was a transition from uncertainty to judgement as patients eventually obtained a diagnosis of FND. Overarching all themes was the sense of FND as a war on two fronts as patients battled both their symptoms and the health care system.

Conclusion: Help seeking for FND involves a battle which may be improved by educating HCPs and offering a specialised clinic.

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功能性神经障碍（FND）的急症室求助：一项对两条战线上的战争患者经历的混合方法研究。

目的：本混合方法研究旨在i)描述伴有和不伴有功能性神经障碍（FND）的频繁参加A&E （FAs）患者的特征；ii)了解FND患者在急症室的求助经历。方法与措施：一是建立NHS FAs数据库（每年10+次）；N = 99)。接下来，对患有FND的FAs （n = 6）进行访谈，了解他们的求助情况。结果：从第一阶段开始，61%的FAs是女性，在过去的12个月里，她们平均去了16次急症室，并被转诊到各种各样的诊所。FND患者（n = 11）与非FND患者（n = 88）之间无显著差异。在第二阶段，主题分析描述了四个主要主题：“症状体验”;(二)“孤立感”；3)“医疗保健专业人员（HCP）护理障碍”；(四)“HCP毅力”。超越这些主题是一个从不确定到判断的过渡，因为患者最终获得了FND的诊断。在所有主题中，最重要的是FND是一场在两条战线上的战争，患者既要与他们的症状作斗争，也要与卫生保健系统作斗争。结论：寻求FND的帮助涉及到一场战斗，可以通过教育HCPs和提供专门的诊所来改善。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychology & Health Multiple-

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

3.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psychology & Health promotes the study and application of psychological approaches to health and illness. The contents include work on psychological aspects of physical illness, treatment processes and recovery; psychosocial factors in the aetiology of physical illnesses; health attitudes and behaviour, including prevention; the individual-health care system interface particularly communication and psychologically-based interventions. The journal publishes original research, and accepts not only papers describing rigorous empirical work, including meta-analyses, but also those outlining new psychological approaches and interventions in health-related fields.