Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics
| Intervention n=30 | Control n=30 | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic data | |||
| Age, mean (SD) | 44 (13.1) | 41 (13.1) | 43 (13.1) |
| Female sex | 22 (73%) | 21 (70%) | 43 (72%) |
| Marital status | |||
| Married/partner | 19 (63%) | 18 (60%) | 37 (62%) |
| Single | 11 (37%) | 12 (40%) | 23 (38%) |
| Employment status | |||
| In paid work or full-time study | 14 (48%) | 12 (40%) | 26 (43%) |
| Not working due to ill health | 14 (45%) | 15 (50%) | 29 (48%) |
| Retired | 2 (7%) | 3 (10%) | 5 (8%) |
| Education level (years) | |||
| <16 | 2 (7%) | 1 (3%) | 3 (5%) |
| Up to 16 | 8 (27%) | 13 (43%) | 21 (35%) |
| Up to 18 | 4 (13%) | 6 (20%) | 10 (17%) |
| Degree level qualification | 13 (43%) | 9 (30%) | 22 (37%) |
| Post graduate qualification | 3 (10%) | 1 (3%) | 4 (7%) |
| Clinical data | |||
| Symptom duration in years, mean (SD) | 5.9 (8.3) | 5.6 (6.2) | 5.8 (7.3) |
| Age at symptom onset, mean (SD) | 38 (12.9) | 36 (11.2) | 37 (12.0) |
| Primary symptom, frequency | |||
| Weakness | 3 (10%) | 4 (13%) | 7 (12%) |
| Gait disturbance | 9 (30%) | 7 (23%) | 16 (27%) |
| Upper limb tremor | 3 (10%) | 3 (10%) | 6 (10%) |
| Head tremor | 2 (7%) | 1 (3%) | 3 (5%) |
| Fixed dystonia | 0 | 1 (3%) | 1 (2%) |
| Jerks | 2 (7%) | 1 (3%) | 3 (5%) |
| Mixed movement disorder | 11 (37%) | 13 (43%) | 24 (40%) |
| Sensory symptoms, frequency | |||
| Visual disturbance | 11 (37%) | 12 (40%) | 23 (38%) |
| Hearing difficulties | 8 (27%) | 6 (20%) | 14 (23%) |
| Pins and needles | 15 (50%) | 23 (77%) | 38 (63%) |
| Numbness | 14 (47%) | 20 (67%) | 34 (57%) |
| Dizziness | 15 (50%) | 14 (47%) | 29 (48%) |
| Other symptoms | |||
| Weakness* | 20 (67%) | 23 (77%) | 43 (72%) |
| Headache | 14 (47%) | 22 (73%) | 36 (60%) |
| Sleep disturbance | 18 (62%) | 20 (67%) | 38 (63%) |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | 9 (30%) | 6 (20%) | 15 (25%) |
| Bladder problems | 9 (31%) | 11 (37%) | 20 (33%) |
| Speech disturbance | 13 (43%) | 16 (53%) | 29 (48%) |
| Concentration or attention problems | 23 (77%) | 22 (73%) | 45 (75%) |
| Dissociative seizures | 6 (20%) | 3 (10%) | 9 (15%) |
| Pain self-rating | |||
| None | 6 (20%) | 1 (3%) | 7 (12%) |
| Slight to moderate | 10 (34%) | 14 (47%) | 24 (40%) |
| Severe to extreme | 13 (45%) | 15 (50%) | 28 (47%) |
| Fatigue self-rating | |||
| None | 2 (7%) | 1 (3%) | 3 (5%) |
| Slight to moderate | 13 (43%) | 14 (47%) | 27 (45%) |
| Severe to extreme | 15 (50%) | 15 (50%) | 30 (50%) |
| Patients reporting falls | 10 (33%) | 19 (63%) | 29 (48%) |
| Previous physiotherapy | 23 (77%) | 23 (77%) | 46 (77%) |
| Previous psychological therapy | 9 (31%) | 10 (33%) | 19 (32%) |
*Participants who reported weakness that was in addition to their primary symptom (eg, gait disturbance and subjective symptom of weakness).