A meta-ethnographic synthesis of the experiences of stigma amongst people with functional neurological disorder 2022 Foley, Kirkby and Eccles

Abstract

Purpose
Functional neurological disorder (FND) causes many neurological symptoms and significant disability. It is often misunderstood by medical professionals and the public meaning stigma is regularly reported. The aim of this review was to synthesise the qualitative findings in the literature to develop a more in-depth understanding of how people with FND experience stigma to inform future interventions.

Method
This review used a meta-ethnography approach. Five databases were searched (PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE) in February 2021 and updated in July 2022 for qualitative papers in FND. Included papers were critically assessed using the critical appraisal skills programme (CASP) checklist. Data were analysed and synthesised utilising meta-ethnography.

Results and conclusion
Sixteen papers were included in the final synthesis. Four major themes emerged: stigmatized by delegitimization; stigmatized by social exclusion and rejection; coping with stigma; and stigma and identity. The results identified negative, stigmatizing attitudes towards people experiencing FND symptoms in a variety of contexts including healthcare and other social institutions. The effects of stigma led to further exclusion for participants and appeared to trigger coping styles that led to additional difficulty. Stigma is a key part of the illness experience of FND and needs to be addressed.

• IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
• Functional neurological disorders can cause a significant degree of disability for those individuals who experience them.
  
  
• This experience appears to be compounded by stigma these people encounter as a result of their illness in their day-to-day lives as well as in their contact with institutions including education, workplaces, and healthcare.
  
  
• A potential strategy to reduce the impact of stigma is through raising awareness of the reality of this condition which may be achieved through education targeted towards healthcare providers.
  

Open access, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2022.2155714

 

What about ping-pong tables for morale, though?

Yes, let's definitely educate physicians how to discriminate and gaslight. That will solve something.

 

why did they mention healthcare last when medical failure is the primary source of all stigmatisation of patient groups .

 

Because they dispute that. By being the people who decide what's true or false. Like the literal textbook version of victors writing history. In that it's literally the textbook they are writing. It's not just a book of stories, it's considered to be academic and true, because they are academics.

Everyone needs accountability. Turns out medicine needs it more than most, whereas it has none whatsoever. Self-regulation is not a thing, neither is self-accountability. We are at the taxation without representation phase of medicine. The lordship model will have to end in order to improve the basics, they are otherwise stuck firmly in place because they're like aristocrats who only listen to other aristocrats and know little else.