The Effects of Biofeedback Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of biofeedback therapy (BT) on anxiety and depression among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

A randomized waitlist-controlled trial was conducted involving 19 patients with PD and comorbid anxiety and/or depression. Anxiety and depression were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up.

All 19 patients completed the study. Compared with those of the control group, significant improvements in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the anxiety subscale (but not the depression subscale) of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were observed immediately after BT. In the pooled analysis, the anxiolytic effect persisted at the 1-month follow-up, with greater improvements observed in those with more severe baseline anxiety.

These preliminary findings suggest that BT may help reduce anxiety symptoms among PD patients. Future studies with larger, more severely affected cohorts are needed to confirm these findings.