A Systematic Review of Psychotherapy Approaches for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease

Anxiety is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), negatively impacting daily functioning and quality of life in PD patients and their families. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic approaches for reducing anxiety in PD and provides recommendations for clinical practise.

Following PRISMA guidelines, 36 studies were included and risk of bias was evaluated.

We identified cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodrama psychotherapies. There is good evidence-base for anxiety reduction using CBT approaches, but with mixed results for mindfulness-based therapies. Other therapeutic approaches were under researched. Most randomized control trials examined anxiety as a secondary measure. There was a paucity of interventions for anxiety subtypes. Secondarily, studies revealed the consistent exclusion of PD patients with cognitive concerns, an importance of care partner involvement, and a growing interest in remote delivery of psychotherapy interventions.

Person-centered anxiety interventions tailored for PD patients, including those with cognitive concerns, and trials exploring modalities other than CBT, warrant future investigations.

Practitioners should consider PD-specific anxiety symptoms and cognitive concerns when treating anxiety. Key distinctions between therapeutic modalities, therapy settings and delivery methods should guide treatment planning.