Psychological interventions to reduce Negative Affect and Impulsive Compulsive Behaviours in Parkinson’s Disease: a narrative review

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, among which the most important are psychological manifestations such as depression, anxiety, and impulse compulsive behaviors (ICBs). Non-motor symptoms are common in PD and can significantly impact quality of life. This review aimed to explore the Effectiveness of psychological interventions such as cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and other therapeutic strategies in managing depression and anxiety among PD patients. This research has two main objectives. Firstly, to determine the efficacy of psychological interventions in reducing negative affect, such as depression and anxiety. Secondly, whether these interventions can also be effective for the reduction of ICBs (e.g., pathological gambling, compulsive shopping, or hypersexuality), among patients with PD. A comprehensive narrative review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) was carried out to assess the effects of the psychological interventions. Findings from the review revealed that psychological interventions especially CBT and MBSR showed significant potential in reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety. Also, there is some evidence to suggest that these treatments may even reduce ICBs especially when the negative affect (depression and anxiety) are effectively addressed. These findings underscore the potential role of non-pharmacological treatment approaches as complementary strategies to manage mood and behavioral symptoms associated with PD. Our study emphasizes the significance of addressing mood disorders in PD to enhance health outcomes and quality of life. This suggests a more integrated approach, where psychological interventions could offer substantial benefits to individuals living with PD.