[Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Parkinson's Disease]. / Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie von Angst und Depression bei Patienten mit Morbus Parkinson.

Non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are gaining more and more interest. Diagnosis of mental disorders in particular, such as anxiety and depression, are often not a part of the professional's diagnostic procedure in spite of the high prevalence rate. To provide these patients with comprehensive treatment, proper diagnosis and appropriate therapy are required. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been one of the most efficient therapies for anxiety and depression, also in a group setting. This review compares studies that examined patients with PD diagnosed with anxiety disorders and/or depression. In eight studies, CBT in an individual setting was assessed. Three of these had a single case study design, three did not have a control group and two were randomized controlled trials. Two interventions were telephone-based and two were in a group therapy setting. Several results indicate that there is a decline in depressive symptoms as well as anxiety after CBT. There are very few randomized controlled studies on this issue. The efficacy of group treatment needs to be investigated better in order to offer patients effective treatment, keeping in kind their special circumstances.

[German Translation and Validation of the Scale for Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Parkinson's disease (SEND-PD)]. / Deutsche Übersetzung und Validierung der Checkliste zur Erfassung neuropsychiatrischer Störungen bei Parkinsonerkrankung (CENS-PE).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to validate and provide a German version of the Scale for Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Parkinson's disease (SEND-PD) of Martínez-Martín et al. (2012). METHOD: The German version of the SEND-PD was evaluated in a sample consisting of 96 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) (mean age: 65.3 years ±â€Š9.6, 29 female). This scale includes 12 items, representing the domains psychotic symptoms, mood/apathy and impulse control disorders. Reliability and validity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The examined patients presented a few neuropsychiatric symptoms. Explorative factor analyses identified the proposed three dimensions solution. The items of the mood/apathy domain were homogenous and selective, and the domain showed acceptable internal consistency. For the other two domains, the values were only partially acceptable. Convergent, discriminate and construct validity were shown. CONCLUSION: The German version of the SEND-PD is sufficiently reliable and valid to be adopted in German speaking countries. However, since patients showed only a few symptoms in the dimensions of psychotic symptoms and impulse control disorders, these two domains can be evaluated only to a limited extent.