Early Maladaptive Schemas in Functional Neurological Disorders

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Is there a relationship between early maladaptive schemas and functional neurological symptoms?

  • IRAS ID

    245770

  • Contact name

    Toby Newson

  • Contact email

    toby.newson.2016@live.rhul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 3 days

  • Research summary

    Functional neurological symptoms (FNS) are neurological symptoms which are not caused by injury or disease. They are usually linked to emotional difficulties. Examples of FNS include having seizure-like ‘fits’ that are not caused by epilepsy, or not being able to move a limb despite there being no damage to the body. FNS are associated with higher rates of disability and distress than other neurological symptoms, but there has been a lack of research into how to treat them and what causes them.

    Some psychotherapists use the term ‘schemas’ to mean negative patterns of thinking, feeling and acting which people can get into. It is thought that these can often start to develop in childhood when a child’s emotional needs are not met. Existing research suggests that people with FNS may be more likely to have schemas in adulthood.

    The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between schemas and unmet childhood emotional needs on FNS. This study is the first to examine schemas in a group of people with FNS. The sample will be drawn from an a hospital psychiatry service specialising in FNS. Participants will complete a single set of questionnaires in one sitting measuring the constructs listed above. It is predicted that scores for certain types of schemas and unmet childhood needs will be associated greater health impairment.

    This study design has been developed in collaboration with supervisors Dr Alex Fowke and Dr Nick Medford. The proposal has been approved Royal Holloway's Department of Clinical Psychology. Dr Meford has previously been involved in similar research, such as the CODES study, a randomised control trial of cognitive behavioural therapy for non-epileptic seizures (Goldstein et al., 2015).

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/LO/1833

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Feb 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion