Cognitive behavioral group therapy versus psychoeducational intervention in Parkinson's disease

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Isabella Berardelli, Sapienza University of Rome; Maria Carmela Bloise, Sapienza University of Rome; Matteo Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome; Antonella Conte, Sapienza University of Rome; Maurizio Pompili, Sapienza University of Rome; Dorian A. Lamis, Emory University; Massimo Pasquini, Sapienza University of Rome; Giovanni Fabbrini, Sapienza University of Rome
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-01-01
• Publisher: Dove Medical Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 Berardelli et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S152221
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
• ISSN: 1176-6328
• Volume: 14
• Start Page: 399
• End Page: 405
• Keywords: non-motor symptoms; psychoeducation; cognitive behavioral group therapy; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Parkinson's disease; CBT; PREVALENCE; Clinical Neurology; SYMPTOMS; DEPRESSION; RATING-SCALE; Science & Technology; DISORDER; motor symptoms; Psychiatry; QUALITY-OF-LIFE; GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPY; WOMEN; ANXIETY; Neurosciences & Neurology
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether cognitive behavioral group therapy has a positive impact on psychiatric, and motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: We assigned 20 PD patients with a diagnosis of psychiatric disorder to either a 12-week cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group or a psychoeducational protocol. For the neurological examination, we administered the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and the non-motor symptoms scale. The severity of psychiatric symptoms was assessed by means of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions. Results: Cognitive behavioral group therapy was effective in treating depression and anxiety symptoms as well as reducing the severity of non-motor symptoms in PD patients; whereas, no changes were observed in PD patients treated with the psychoeducational protocol. Conclusion: CBT offered in a group format should be considered in addition to standard drug therapy in PD patients.