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Coordinated multidisciplinary interventions may improve motor function and physical quality of life in functional movement disordersMultidisciplinary Care May Improve Motor Function in Movement Disorders

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Key Takeaway
Note that coordinated multidisciplinary interventions may improve motor function and physical quality of life in the short term.

This systematic review examines the impact of coordinated multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary interventions on adults diagnosed with functional movement disorders. The review synthesizes data from 186 participants to evaluate outcomes including motor function, quality of life, and mental health status compared to non-coordinated care.

Findings suggest that coordinated multidisciplinary interventions may improve motor function and the physical domain of quality of life in the short to medium term. Conversely, the review found no clear benefits for mental health status, overall clinical assessment, or social impact. Adverse events associated with these interventions were reported as infrequent and generally mild.

The authors note several limitations, including substantial heterogeneity across studies which made a meta-analysis unfeasible. One included study was noted to have a high risk of bias. Furthermore, findings regarding quality of life and motor function were inconsistent across the reviewed literature, and the sustainability of any observed effects remains uncertain.

Clinically, while coordinated multidisciplinary care may offer short-term functional improvements, the lack of evidence regarding psychosocial impact and long-term durability suggests a need for more consistent data before establishing long-term clinical expectations.

Researchers looked at how coordinated, multidisciplinary care affects adults with functional movement disorders. This type of care involves different professionals working together to provide a combined treatment plan. The review looked at 186 participants to see how this approach compared to standard care.

The findings suggest that these coordinated programs may improve motor function and physical quality of life in the short to medium term. However, the study did not find clear benefits for mental health, overall clinical assessments, or social impact. Because the studies included were very different from one another, the results are not consistent across all areas.

While some physical improvements were noted, it is unclear if these benefits last over a long period of time. The treatment was generally well tolerated with only infrequent and mild side effects reported. Because the evidence is limited by inconsistent results and study differences, these findings should be viewed as preliminary for patients seeking long-term management.

What this means for you:
Coordinated care may improve motor function and physical quality of life in the short term for certain movement disorders.

Common questions

What are the benefits of multidisciplinary care for movement disorders?

Coordinated care from different types of professionals may improve motor function and physical quality of life in the short to medium term. However, the study did not find clear benefits for mental health or social impact. Because the evidence is inconsistent, these improvements may not be available to everyone.

Is this type of treatment safe for patients?

The treatment was generally well tolerated. The study reported that adverse events were infrequent and generally mild. There were no reports of serious adverse events or patients having to stop treatment due to safety concerns.

How long do the improvements from this treatment last?

The study suggests that improvements in motor function and physical quality of life may occur in the short to medium term. However, there is currently uncertainty regarding whether these effects are sustainable over a longer period of time.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedOct 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
IntroductionFunctional movement disorders (FMD) are a group of highly disabling conditions that are often managed through fragmented care, despite increasing support for interdisciplinary coordinated clinical approaches. This systematic review assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of interdisciplinary interventions in adults diagnosed with FMD.MethodsMEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDro, INAHTA, trial registries, and HTA agency websites were searched from inception to October 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing coordinated multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary interventions combining therapeutic components delivered by professionals from different discipline with non-coordinated or non-multidisciplinary care were included. Outcomes of interest included quality of life, motor function, mental health, and reported adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 tool.ResultsMeta-analysis was not feasible because of substantial heterogeneity across studies. Five RCTs published between 2002 and 2024, including 186 participants (105 females) were included. One study was rated as having an overall high risk of bias. Compared with control interventions, interdisciplinary interventions may improve quality of life (physical domain) and motor function in the short to medium term, although findings were inconsistent across studies. No clear benefits were found for mental health status, overall clinical assessment, or social impact. Reported adverse events were infrequent and generally mild.PerspectiveThis systematic review synthesizes current evidence on interdisciplinary care in FMD. While short-term functional improvements have been noted, the uncertainty regarding the sustainability of these effects and their possible psychosocial impact underscores the necessity for rigorous longitudinal research in this population.Systematic Review RegistrationOSF (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/56GYX).
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