Evaluation of non-motor symptoms in cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasm, and blepharospasm patients and their correlation with motor symptoms

Background Awareness of non-motor symptoms has been increasing in recent years, but there are still few studies on this topic. Objective Our aim was to evaluate various non-motor symptoms, especially psychiatric disorders, cognitive status, and sleep, in cervical dystonia (CD), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and blepharospasm (BPS) patients and to investigate whether these symptoms are related to the severity of motor symptoms. Methods This was a single-center cross-sectional, observational, case–control study. Motor severity scales were used to determine disease severity. We evaluated non-motor symptoms with commonly used scales. A total of 73 patients and 73 control groups participated. Results In CD patients, the MoCA total score, ‘language’, ‘abstraction’, and ‘orientation’ scores were statistically significantly lower; PSQI, ESS, and NMSQ scores were statistically significantly higher than controls. In the BPS group, the MoCA total score and the ‘language’ score were significantly lower, and the NMSQ score was statistically significantly higher than the controls. In the HFS group, MoCA total score, ‘executive functions’, ‘language’, and ‘abstraction’ scores were statistically significantly lower; PSQI scores are statistically significantly higher than controls. There was a positive correlation between the severity score and the PSQI score in the CD group and between the severity score and the NMSQ score in the BPS group. All three groups had significant cognitive impairments. Conclusions In CD, BPS, and HFS, non-motor symptoms are apparent with undeniable frequency in addition to common motor symptoms. Importantly, these NMS may cause significant deterioration in the quality of life of the patients.