AAN 2022 | Functional neurological disorders surge during the COVID-19 pandemic

Davide Martino, MD, PhD, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, discusses the increase in functional neurological disorders over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a substantial rise in the number of newly detected cases of functional movement disorders in both outpatient and acute settings. These cases represent the full spectrum of functional movement disorders, such as tremors, dystonia, myoclonus, and gait disorders. Additionally, there has been a surge in relatively novel presentations of functional behaviors and movement disorders over the course of the pandemic, with the most noteworthy presentation being rapid onset tic-like behaviors. These disorders have been occurring in both emergency room and outpatient settings around the globe. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology 2022 Congress in Seattle, WA.