Lily Smythe
@lilysmythe.bsky.social
370 followers 140 following 22 posts
PhD student interested in the co-occurrence of Functional Neurological Disorder and Autism. Part of NREG and Re:Spect Lab and based at the IoPPN, King's College London
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Reposted by Lily Smythe
timnicholson.bsky.social
Superb work from @lilysmythe.bsky.social - 1st of what I’m sure will be lots of great papers from her @ukri.org MRC funded PhD investigating emerging complex and potentially important overlap & relationship between FND & ASD👏👏👊🏻👊🏻

Big e-records (TrinetX) study showing ⬆️ rates of comorbidity
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Autism and FND are both complex and often misunderstood.

This study is a step toward understanding that overlap - and hopefully toward better diagnosis and support.

Thanks to my co-authors @liviaasan.bsky.social,
@timnicholson.bsky.social, Francesca Happé, and Mark Edwards
Co-occurring functional neurological disorder and autism: an exploratory study of comorbidities in a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX - Journal of Neurology
Background Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) encompasses motor, cognitive, and sensory symptoms resulting from disruptions in brain-body communication. Emerging research suggests a higher-than-expected occurrence of autism in FND, potentially due to shared cognitive mechanisms and overlapping comorbidities. However, large-scale characterisation of this dual-diagnosis is lacking. Methods Using de-identified health records from the TriNetX research network, we identified children and adults with both FND and autism (‘FND + Autism’), comparing them to individuals with FND only (‘FND-only’) and autism only (‘Autism-only’). We examined psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. mood, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder), intellectual disability and ADHD. Results Of 220,312 individuals with an FND diagnosis, and 674,971 individuals with an autism diagnosis, 5,152 (2.3% of FND, 0.76% of autism) had both FND and autism. The rates of autism were therefore 6 times higher in FND compared to the base rates of the TriNetX population. Most were diagnosed with autism before FND, with over one-third diagnosed in childhood. Functional seizures were the most common FND subtype, and were more frequent in FND + Autism than FND-only (adults: 52% vs. 44%; children: 47% vs. 42%). Comorbidity across all psychiatric conditions was significantly higher in FND + Autism compared to both comparison groups. ADHD was particularly elevated in FND + Autism (adults: 50% vs. 13% FND-only, 36% Autism-only; children: 64% vs. 21% FND-only, 41% Autism-only). Conclusions This study presents the largest dataset to date characterising individuals with co-occurring FND and autism. Findings are consistent with previous findings of higher rates of autism in people with FND and reveal a potentially distinct clinical profile, marked by elevated rates of ADHD and psychiatric comorbidities, and increased occurrence of functional seizures compared to FND- or Autism-only groups. Recognising this overlap may improve diagnosis, clinical care, and understanding of mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of FND and autism.
link.springer.com
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Autism and FND are both complex and often misunderstood.

This study is a step toward understanding that overlap - and hopefully toward better diagnosis and support.

Thanks to my co-authors @liviaasan.bsky.social,
@timnicholson.bsky.social, Francesca Happé, and Mark Edwards
Co-occurring functional neurological disorder and autism: an exploratory study of comorbidities in a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX - Journal of Neurology
Background Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) encompasses motor, cognitive, and sensory symptoms resulting from disruptions in brain-body communication. Emerging research suggests a higher-than-expected occurrence of autism in FND, potentially due to shared cognitive mechanisms and overlapping comorbidities. However, large-scale characterisation of this dual-diagnosis is lacking. Methods Using de-identified health records from the TriNetX research network, we identified children and adults with both FND and autism (‘FND + Autism’), comparing them to individuals with FND only (‘FND-only’) and autism only (‘Autism-only’). We examined psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. mood, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder), intellectual disability and ADHD. Results Of 220,312 individuals with an FND diagnosis, and 674,971 individuals with an autism diagnosis, 5,152 (2.3% of FND, 0.76% of autism) had both FND and autism. The rates of autism were therefore 6 times higher in FND compared to the base rates of the TriNetX population. Most were diagnosed with autism before FND, with over one-third diagnosed in childhood. Functional seizures were the most common FND subtype, and were more frequent in FND + Autism than FND-only (adults: 52% vs. 44%; children: 47% vs. 42%). Comorbidity across all psychiatric conditions was significantly higher in FND + Autism compared to both comparison groups. ADHD was particularly elevated in FND + Autism (adults: 50% vs. 13% FND-only, 36% Autism-only; children: 64% vs. 21% FND-only, 41% Autism-only). Conclusions This study presents the largest dataset to date characterising individuals with co-occurring FND and autism. Findings are consistent with previous findings of higher rates of autism in people with FND and reveal a potentially distinct clinical profile, marked by elevated rates of ADHD and psychiatric comorbidities, and increased occurrence of functional seizures compared to FND- or Autism-only groups. Recognising this overlap may improve diagnosis, clinical care, and understanding of mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of FND and autism.
link.springer.com
lilysmythe.bsky.social
ADHD was particularly elevated in those with FND and autism, higher than the rates seen in those with just autism
(50% of adults and 64% of children)

This asks the question of whether we broaden out the interest in autism and FND to neurodiversity and FND
lilysmythe.bsky.social
We found:

➡️ The rate of autism was 6 times higher in FND than in the base rate of autism in the TriNetX population

➡️ Functional seizures were the most common FND subtype

➡️ Those with both FND and autism had significantly higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities (OCD, personality disorders, PTSD)
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Excited to share my first first-author paper in Journal of Neurology! 🧠

Using the TriNetX dataset (176M patients), we explored co-occurring FND and Autism - work first presented at the RCPsych Neuropsychiatry Conf

Read it here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...

#Autism #FND #Neuropsychiatry
Co-occurring functional neurological disorder and autism: an exploratory study of comorbidities in a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX - Journal of Neurology
Background Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) encompasses motor, cognitive, and sensory symptoms resulting from disruptions in brain-body communication. Emerging research suggests a higher-than-expected occurrence of autism in FND, potentially due to shared cognitive mechanisms and overlapping comorbidities. However, large-scale characterisation of this dual-diagnosis is lacking. Methods Using de-identified health records from the TriNetX research network, we identified children and adults with both FND and autism (‘FND + Autism’), comparing them to individuals with FND only (‘FND-only’) and autism only (‘Autism-only’). We examined psychiatric comorbidities (e.g. mood, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder), intellectual disability and ADHD. Results Of 220,312 individuals with an FND diagnosis, and 674,971 individuals with an autism diagnosis, 5,152 (2.3% of FND, 0.76% of autism) had both FND and autism. The rates of autism were therefore 6 times higher in FND compared to the base rates of the TriNetX population. Most were diagnosed with autism before FND, with over one-third diagnosed in childhood. Functional seizures were the most common FND subtype, and were more frequent in FND + Autism than FND-only (adults: 52% vs. 44%; children: 47% vs. 42%). Comorbidity across all psychiatric conditions was significantly higher in FND + Autism compared to both comparison groups. ADHD was particularly elevated in FND + Autism (adults: 50% vs. 13% FND-only, 36% Autism-only; children: 64% vs. 21% FND-only, 41% Autism-only). Conclusions This study presents the largest dataset to date characterising individuals with co-occurring FND and autism. Findings are consistent with previous findings of higher rates of autism in people with FND and reveal a potentially distinct clinical profile, marked by elevated rates of ADHD and psychiatric comorbidities, and increased occurrence of functional seizures compared to FND- or Autism-only groups. Recognising this overlap may improve diagnosis, clinical care, and understanding of mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of FND and autism.
link.springer.com
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Great day at the Faculty of Neuropsychiatry conference at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. I got to present data from my new paper in press in the Journal of Neurology, and listened to a fantastic discussion around assisted dying!
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Apologies for missing this- unfortunately the study is only open to UK participants :)
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Thanks for sharing Abby!
lilysmythe.bsky.social
🧠 New study at KCL looking for volunteers with both #FND and #Autism to take part in an interview sharing your experiences!

- 15 minute survey followed by a 1 hour interview

Interested?
✉️ Please message me: [email protected]

Thanks for sharing!
Reposted by Lily Smythe
paulginva.bsky.social
1/2 Most of the time, the use of over the top words like "terrifying" just makes the author look like a crank, but in this case, it could very well be justified. Memory of what was written was virtually nonexistent and brain connectivity collapsed by 47%. Read the thread.

x.com/itsalexvacca...
This image is a screenshot of a social media post by Alex Vacca on X announcing a new MIT study on the cognitive effects of using ChatGPT. 
The study, titled "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task," suggests that using AI tools like ChatGPT for tasks such as essay writing may lead to reduced brain activity and cognitive engagement. 
The research, conducted by the MIT Media Lab, indicates that while AI might seem to increase productivity, it could be making users "cognitively bankrupt" by reducing brain connectivity in areas related to memory, executive control, and creativity. 
The study used dynamic Direct Transfer Function (dDTF) EEG analysis of the Alpha Band to compare brain activity in groups using LLMs (like ChatGPT), search engines, and brain-only approaches for essay writing. 
Results showed that participants relying on LLMs exhibited the weakest brain connectivity compared to those using search engines or no external tools, suggesting a potential "cognitive debt" associated with AI assistance.
Reposted by Lily Smythe
hamiltonmorrin.bsky.social
🧠 Study exploring new FND treatment! We’re exploring patient views on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for #FND rehab.

✅ 18+

✅ Diagnosed w/ motor FND (e.g. weakness, tremor)

📝 10-min survey and educational video: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

📎 Poster below #FNDresearch #BCI
lilysmythe.bsky.social
hahaha i complained there were so many tourists but of course that doesn’t apply to me
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Another great discussion meeting ‘From being to identity: analysis and synthesis of the self’ at the Royal Society yesterday!
Brilliant to hear about work being done around conceptualisation of the self, including a fantastic panel discussion on lived experience of diversity in experience of self.
lilysmythe.bsky.social
excited for this next week!
respectlabkcl.bsky.social
🚨May Talk Announcement!🚨
Join us on May 28th at 2PM to hear Kayleigh Doyle (@kayleighdoyle.bsky.social) discuss her PhD work looking at using the creative arts to teach autistic students.
Tickets are available at eventbrite.co.uk/e/arch-semin...
We hope to see you there!
This is a poster advertising the Autism Research Seminar Series, or ARCH. This talk is called "Creative arts-based pegagogy (CABP) with autistic students: co-producing a manifesto", and is delivered by Kayleigh Doyle, a PhD student at the University of York. The talk will take place on May 28th at 2pm on Zoom. The talk abstract reads: "In this research, I explore how autistic young people and teachers feel about using the creative arts to teach autistic students in mainstream schools, and what they perceive to be barriers and facilitators. In this talk, I will briefly touch upon the findings from two systematic reviews, before discussing the findings from two empirical studies, a teacher questionnaire and student interviews. I will finish by outlining the planned next steps, a co-production workshop with the aim to develop a co-produced "creative arts-based pedagogy manifesto"."
lilysmythe.bsky.social
Still processing what a fantastic experience this was, and how lucky I feel to have attended it! One week of learning, inspiration, and fantastic conversations with wonderful people. Thank you @sarahgarf.bsky.social and @skhalsa.bsky.social for creating such a wonderful and productive space!
Reposted by Lily Smythe
epanlab.bsky.social
What an amazing week on San Servolo on interoception and brain disorders; I learned so much, thanks all for the great discussions and thanks for the great organization and all the the fun! @skhalsa.bsky.social @sarahgarf.bsky.social
Reposted by Lily Smythe
zarahsultana.bsky.social
Solidarity with trans women after today’s Supreme Court ruling.

The rollback of LGBT rights — especially trans rights — is global, bankrolled by billionaires and the far-right.

Trans rights are human rights. We must defend the Equality Act and its protections for trans people.
Reposted by Lily Smythe
respectlabkcl.bsky.social
📢April Talk Announcement 📢

Join us on April 16th to see @lomasresearch.bsky.social discuss his PhD research exploring the usefulness of Theory of Mind in pedagogy.

Tickets can be found here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/arch-semin...

We hope to see you there!
This poster is advertising the Autism Research Seminar Series, or ARCH. The talk will be given by Matthew Lomas, a PhD student at the University of Exeter. The talk will take place on April 16th, 2025, at 2pm 
and on Zoom. The talk title reads "How Important is Theory of Mind to Human Pedagogy?". The talk abstract reads "The ecological dominance of humans has been often suggested as being underlined by our capacity for pedagogy (i.e. teaching), but the mechanisms the enable us to transfer knowledge effectively are not well understood. Theory of Mind (ToM, i.e. the capacity to consider the minds of others) has typically been framed as human’s “silver bullet”, however empirical research is lacking and this position is contradicted by accounts of teaching by neuro-divergent people, and studies of non-human teaching. This presentation will discuss research which seeks to evidence questions about the role of ToM in human pedagogy, using experimental designs that aim to contrast and characterise Autistic and non-Autistic approaches to teaching."
Reposted by Lily Smythe
fndportal.bsky.social
Today is FND Awareness Day (UK)!

FND is a common, painful, and disabling disorder.

It remains under-studied and stigmatized, but we’re making progress.

Here’s my in-depth personal essay on how we got here.

medium.com/@fndportal/c...
Cadenza for Fractured Consciousness
A Personal History of the World’s Most Misunderstood Illness
medium.com
lilysmythe.bsky.social
it was such a brilliant trip, and i’d really recommend anyone to go and visit!!!
lilysmythe.bsky.social
hearing about nationalist conflict and genocide they feel like unfamiliar terms, something you won’t experience, but i think bosnia and herzegovina serve as a sobering reminder of the familiar faces and forms fascism can take
lilysmythe.bsky.social
hard to put into words how upsetting + unnerving the feeling of proximity to the 1992 siege was - we walked past multiple graveyards full of headstones dated between 1992 to 1995
lilysmythe.bsky.social
completely unrelated to my phd but a few weeks ago i went to sarajevo and i’ve not stopped thinking about how great a trip it was!

sarajevo is an brilliant city with an extensive and harrowing history that it still carries with it but the people, the food, and the spirit of the city was incredible
Reposted by Lily Smythe
francesryan.bsky.social
“This is austerity dressed up as reform, where the government cuts the money disabled people need to live on in order to balance the books, while claiming it’s all being done to help them.”

My col. on Labour’s sweeping disability cuts and mark of shame. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
These cruel benefit cuts will rob security from so many – but Labour will lose something crucial too | Frances Ryan
The worst reforms since George Osborne will teach voters that politicians really are all the same. Is it worth it? asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com