CBT for the treatment of depression in Parkinson’s disease: a promising nonpharmacological approach

Abstract

Depression is very common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and linked with a faster progression of physical symptoms, greater cognitive decline and poorer quality of life. Nonpharmacological approaches, such as cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), for the treatment of depression in PD (dPD) have received little experimental attention despite strong demonstrated efficacy in other geriatric and medical populations. Depressed PD patients often differ from the depressed non-PD elderly in that they present with increased rates of both executive dysfunction and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, may differ in their depressive symptom presentation and typically have caregivers who are highly involved in their treatment. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude that empirically validated treatments in the depressed aged will generalize to those with PD. In order to be most effective for PD patients, CBT should be tailored to their unique needs. Additional controlled research is needed to further explore the efficacy of CBT for dPD.

Keywords::

• cognitive–behavioral therapy
• depression
• nonpharmacological treatment
• Parkinson’s disease

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by 1 K23 NS052155-01A2 awarded to R Dobkin. M Menza also has research support from NIH (NINDS), Astra-Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squib, Forest Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Merck & Co., Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Sepracor, Takeda and Wyeth. M Menza is a consultant for NIH (NIMH and NINDS), GlaxoSmithKline, Kyowa, Lilly Research Laboratories, Ono, Pfizer, Sepracor and Takeda. M Menza is a speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly Research Laboratories, Sepracor, Sanofi-Aventis and Takeda. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.