ObjectivesTo explore the opinion of todays neurologist and psychiatrist in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. It is a replication for Dutch experience with Functional Neurological symptoms Disorder (FND).MethodsA multi-centres Cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia started from November 2019 and still ongoing. The target populations were a qualified psychiatrists or neurologists. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire.ResultsThere were 70 respondents, 37.1% were female and 62.9% males. A 15.5% were Neurologists and 72.4% psychiatrists. Three questionnaires were taken out due to incompletion error. Most neurologists and psychiatrists believed that FND is a disorder of functioning of the nervous system together with psychogenic factors. However, 100% of psychiatrist believed that a prior psychological stress is a cause of the disorder (among other causes) while 86.84% of neurologists. Also found that, a 71% of patients who referred to neurologist were evaluated initially by a general practitioner, while 85% of the patients who referred to psychiatrist; were evaluated by neurologists. Eventually, most of the neurologists and the psychiatrists diagnosed patients by conversion disorder (13/38 of neurologist and 13/20 of psychiatrists).ConclusionOur preliminary conclusion is comparable for Dutch experience that is not considered purely a psychiatric disorder and counted disordered brain functioning together with psychogenic factors responsible for FNS. However, the majority of the psychiatrists in our study diagnose FND as conversion disorder.
Neurological Symptoms and Complications of COVID-19 Among Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia
