Interoception in FND and PD

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Interoception retraining in FND and Parkinson's disease

• IRAS ID

  333007

• Contact name

  Glenn Nielsen

• Contact email

  gnielsen@sgul.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  St George's, University of London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 10 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  BACKGROUND
  Interoception is our sensory awareness of internal bodily sensations. It includes awareness of our heartbeat, the feeling of a full stomach after eating and the sense of muscles feeling tired. Our ability to receive and interpret interoceptive signals is thought to be impaired in a range of neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

  Problems with interoception may contribute to anxiety in people with Parkinson's disease.

  In our current (unpublished) research, we have seen a potential link between interoceptive signals and problems with sensation (pins and needles and numbness of the skin and limbs)

  Problems with interoception may be a treatable part of symptoms and distress in Parkinson's disease and FND.

  AIM
  1. To explore accuracy of interoception in 3 groups: Parkinson's disease, FND, and healthy people

  2. To explore the potential benefit of interoceptive training as a treatment for people with FND and Parkinson's disease.

  METHODS
  We will include 3 groups. 30 People with Parkinson's disease, 30 people with FND, and 30 healthy people.

  All participants will complete a range of questionnaires. Interoceptive accuracy will be tested using well known computer assessment where subjects have to judge whether a rhythm is faster or slower than their own heart rate.
  The Parkinson's and FND group will be asked to practice a relaxation exercise each day that aims to improve interoceptive accuracy for 1 week. We will then retest their accuracy in the clinic and ask them to complete questionnaires again after 2 months.

  OUTCOMES
  This study will help us understand if problems with interoception contributes to symptoms and distress in Parkinson's and FND; and if we should do more research that aims to improve interoception.

• REC name

  Wales REC 4

• REC reference

  23/WA/0249

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Oct 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion