Gonzalez-Herrero Belen, Happé Francesca, Nicholson Timothy R, Morgante Francesca, Pagonabarraga Javier, Deeley Quinton, Edwards Mark J
Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.
Neurosciences and Cell Biology Institute, Neuromodulation and Motor Control Section, St George's University of London, London, UK.
Brain Behav. 2024 Dec;14(12):e70168. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70168.
Functional neurological disorder (FND) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two complex neuropsychiatric conditions that have been historically classified within psychiatric domains, resulting in a lack of extensive research, insufficient clinical recognition, and persistent societal stigma. In recent years, there has been an increasing recognition among professionals and affected individuals of their possible overlap. This review explores the potential clinical and mechanistic overlap between FND and ASD, with particular attention to shared symptoms across sensory, motor, and psychiatric domains.
We conducted a narrative analysis utilizing the PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect databases from inception to June 2024. The search employed specific MeSH terms related to ASD and FND. Given the limited data availability, we included all relevant articles that explored the potential connections between FND and ASD, focusing on established findings and theoretical hypotheses areas.
Scientific evidence indicates that FND and ASD may co-occur more frequently than previously acknowledged and with notable overlaps in their clinical presentations and pathophysiology. Theoretical models that have been applied to FND and ASD, such as the Bayesian brain theory and the tripartite model of autism, may provide valuable insights into the intersection of these conditions. Although much of the current evidence remains speculative, it underscores the need for hypothesis-driven research to investigate these potential connections further.
ASD and FND are heterogeneous conditions that appear to co-occur in a subset of individuals, with overlapping symptomatology and possibly shared underlying mechanisms. This hypothesis-generating review emphasizes the need for further research to better understand these links, ultimately aiming to improve clinical recognition and develop targeted interventions that enhance the quality of life for affected individuals.
功能性神经障碍（FND）和自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是两种复杂的神经精神疾病，在历史上一直被归类于精神科领域，导致研究不够广泛、临床认知不足以及社会上持续存在的耻辱感。近年来，专业人士和患者越来越认识到它们可能存在重叠。本综述探讨了FND和ASD之间潜在的临床和机制重叠，特别关注感觉、运动和精神领域的共同症状。
我们利用PubMed、CINAHL、MEDLINE和ScienceDirect数据库进行了叙述性分析，检索时间从数据库建立至2024年6月。检索使用了与ASD和FND相关的特定医学主题词。鉴于数据有限，我们纳入了所有探讨FND和ASD之间潜在联系的相关文章，重点关注已确定的研究结果和理论假设领域。
科学证据表明，FND和ASD可能比之前认为的更频繁地同时出现，并且在临床表现和病理生理学方面有显著重叠。应用于FND和ASD的理论模型，如贝叶斯大脑理论和自闭症三方模型，可能为这些疾病的交叉点提供有价值的见解。尽管目前的许多证据仍具有推测性，但它强调了需要进行假设驱动的研究来进一步探究这些潜在联系。
ASD和FND是异质性疾病，似乎在一部分个体中同时出现，具有重叠的症状学表现，并且可能有共同的潜在机制。这篇产生假设的综述强调需要进一步研究以更好地理解这些联系，最终目标是提高临床认知并开发有针对性的干预措施，以提高受影响个体的生活质量。
