Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Nimra Ghaffar; Humaira Naz

doi:10.32350/ccpr.81.05

Authors

Nimra Ghaffar University of the Punjab https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3317-6861
Humaira Naz University of the Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8903-6701

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/ccpr.81.05

Keywords:

Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD), chiefly acknowledged for its motor indications, also contains noteworthy non-motor signs, such as anxiety that can strictly impact the quality of life (QoL) and aggravate the general load of illness. cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has appeared as an inspiring management for minimizing psychological signs, predominantly anxiety, among individuals diagnosed with PD. This study aimed to examine the efficiency of CBT for the psychological manifestation in PD. Purposive sampling was used, and sixteen participants (12 men; and 4 women) were randomly assigned to the two treatment conditions (the experimental group receiving therapy and the control group receiving only psycho-education). Therapy comprised ten structured sessions. The age range of participants were between 50 to 69 years (Mean=55.81). The cognitive functioning and specific patients’ illness was assessed through Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), The Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), respectively. The Parkinson’s Anxiety Scale (PAS-12) and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8) were used to assess anxiety and QoL, respectively. Pre- and post-scores of the treatment showed considerable reduction in scores on the Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life (PDQ-8) scale and Parkinson Anxiety Questionnaire (PAS-8) in the treatment group. To compare the pre- and post-treatment scores of two related groups, the nonparametric test was used. Experimental group showed significant improvement at the post-treatment, indicating alleviation of anxiety and enhancement of QoL in comparison to the psychoeducation group. The study concluded that quality of life improved after adapting healthy routines and modifying dysfunctional thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in PD patients. The findings gave evidence of CBT-based lifestyle adjustment as a psychotherapeutic intervention for PD-related distress and impaired QoL.

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