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Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease: a randomized, controlled trial
Roseanne D Dobkin1, Matthew Menza, Lesley A Allen
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, USA. dobkinro@umdnj.edu
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|June 17, 2011
Summary
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduced depression in Parkinson's disease patients compared to clinical monitoring. This suggests CBT is a viable treatment option for this population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Depression significantly impacts Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- No established standard of care exists for treating depression in PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) versus clinical monitoring for depression in Parkinson's disease patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involved 80 depressed PD patients.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was administered for 10 weeks.
- Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was the primary outcome measure.
Main Results:
- CBT group showed significantly greater reduction in depression (HAM-D scores) than the clinical monitoring group.
- CBT also improved secondary outcomes including anxiety and quality of life.
- Treatment response rates were higher in the CBT group (56%) versus clinical monitoring (8%).
Conclusions:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) presents a promising treatment for depression in Parkinson's disease.
- Further research is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings.
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