Thematic Analysis of Reality Therapy with Functional Neurological (Conversion) Disorder Patients in Pakistan

In both acute hospital settings and long-term care, patients with Functional Neurological Disorder (Conversion) are prevalent and present interdisciplinary challenges for neurology and psychiatry. There are few empirically supported treatments for functional neurological disorder (FND), and managing these conditions can be difficult. Through examining their lived experiences and understanding how they manage the drive from the beginning of symptoms to the medical examination, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic adjustment, this study aims to analyze the thematic analysis of reality therapy for individuals with Functional neurological disorder (FND)—female patients who were diagnosed with FND in opds of tertiary care hospitals. The age range of the patients was 20-40 years with different educational and socioeconomic status. The total number of patients was 15. The analysis followed the IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) guidelines. The main researcher thoroughly reviewed every participant's text multiple times on the way to gain a deep understanding. Initial notes were taken, capturing noteworthy aspects, in both descriptive and interpretive forms. These preliminary interpretations were then scrutinized to spot emergent themes and provide them with tentative names. A details assessment of Reality therapy techniques with functional neurological disorder outpatient was fully formulated on the tables of behavior self-evaluation and reality vs expectation. To make the thematic analysis more evidence-based the themes were generated on WDEP (wants, doing, evaluation, and Planning). Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) significantly affect how patients view themselves and their relationships with others, which in turn affects their general well-being. These findings point to the necessity of carefully considered improvements to interventions like reality therapy for the psychiatrist and psychologist to go further beyond other therapeutic interventions.