Functioning, emotion, and pain perception of individuals with Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation...

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) provides improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD). These improvements do not necessarily reflect better functioning, emotion, and less pain after DBS. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate individuals with PD perception regarding the effects of DBS in their functioning, emotion, and pain.

Cross-sectional study which included individuals with PD who were submitted to DBS surgery. To assess the participants' perception, a questionnaire was developed using the Delphi technique, which was considered appropriate to use after 2 rounds of adequation, afterward being judged by 15 specialists. The questionnaire has 13 questions related to the functioning, emotion and pain perception after DBS. Possible answers varied from 0 to 10, and the highest score corresponded to the better functioning, emotion, and less pain.

Fifty-one individuals, with a mean age of 60 ± 9 years, mean disease duration of 13 ± 4 years, and mean surgery time of 2.7 ± 1.4 years were included. The functioning, emotion, and pain perception of individuals with PD enhanced by 60% after DBS. Taking a shower without help was the item with the better improvement (9.3 SD1.9). Writing was the item that presented less improvement (6.6 SD3.3).

Individuals with PD who had DBS surgery accomplished a functioning, emotion, and pain improvement, with better enhancement in taking a shower without help and lower enhancement in writing.