Intervention Initial management by neurologist |
Control Immediate management by GP | Treatment comparison | ||||||||
N | Mean (SD) at baseline | Mean (SD) at 12 months | Mean (SD) change* | N | Mean (SD) at baseline | Mean (SD) at 12 months | Mean (SD) change* | Difference between mean change* (95% CI) | Treatment effect on 12-month outcome p value† | |
VAS pain‡ | 65 | 47.94 (23.52) | 48.17 (25.98) | 0.23 (26.74) | 60 | 49.57 (27.58) | 42.22 (26.56) | −7.35 (23.46) | 7.58 (−1.36 to 16.52) | 0.32 |
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)‡ | 96 | 18.39 (13.13) | 14.81 (12.51) | −3.58 (10.57) | 93 | 18.03 (13.56) | 13.61 (12.86) | −4.42 (10.88) | 0.84 (−2.24 to 3.91) | 0.48 |
Somatisation subscale (SCL-90)‡ | 98 | 28.24 (8.21) | 24.77 (7.59) | −3.48 (7.41) | 95 | 28.39 (8.62) | 24.92 (9.r Marinus Vermeulen, 25) | −3.47 (8.40) | −0.01 (−2.25 to 2.24) | 0.95 |
HADS anxiety ‡ HADS depression‡ | 98 98 | 7.79 (4.68) 6.62 (4.95) | 6.84 (4.17) 5.65 (4.88) | −0.95 (3.82) −0.97 (4.13) | 94 94 | 8.46 (4.67) 6.81 (4.34) | 7.31 (4.33) 5.55 (4.74) | −1.15 (3.26) −1.26 (4.04) | 0.20 (−0.81 to 1.21) 0.29 (−0.88 to 1.45) | 0.90 0.69 |
ALDS§ | 97 | 83.11 (8.31) | 84.20 (8.73) | 1.09 (9.22) | 95 | 84.95 (6.26) | 85.53 (6.67) | 0.59 (4.59) | 0.51 (−1.57 to 2.58) | 0.58 |
VAS general well-being§ | 80 | 47.46 (23.18) | 55.50 (24.51) | 8.04 (25.60) | 78 | 42.63 (23.65) | 52.28 (26.21) | 9.65 (25.16) | −1.62 (−9.59 to 6.36) | 0.82 |
* Reported mean changes and differences between mean changes may slightly differ from apparent differences due to rounding.
† Treatment effects on the 12-month secondary outcome scores were analysed using multivariable linear regression, including the concerning baseline scores and the stratification variable (type of functional symptom: pain, ‘pseudo’neurological symptoms and ‘positive’ sensory symptoms) into the models.
‡ Higher scores on the VAS pain, PCS, Somatisation subscale and HADS indicate more impaired health.
§ Higher scores on the ALDS and VAS general well-being indicate better functional status and well-being.
ALDS, AMC Linear Disability Scale; GP, general practitioner; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale; SCL-90, Symptom Check List; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.