Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression Associated with Parkinson's Disease: a Single Case Series

Abstract

The feasibility of a brief home based cognitive behavioural intervention for depression associated with Parkinson's Disease (PD) was evaluated. Five depressed patients with PD participated. Their ages ranged from 54 to 82 and they all attended a movement disorder clinic. Outcome was assessed using mood and quality of life inventories (Beck Depression Inventory; Geriatric Depression Scale; Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire). Four individuals demonstrated a clinically reliable reduction of symptoms according to the GDS scores, with greater improvement reported for the two individuals with more severe pre-therapy levels of depression. The BDI findings suggested most of the improvement related to the cognitive dimensions of guilt, pessimism and failure. Overall, the change in mood was not accompanied by an enhancement of perceived quality of life, and little variation in the frequency of activities was reported over the course of therapy. Possible explanations for the findings are considered along with implications for theory and clinical practice.