Improvements were seen on several tasks, and overall function improved.
Psychotherapeutic interventions have been shown to help depression in patients with Parkinson disease (PD; NEJM JW Psychiatry Aug 1 2011). In a controlled, randomized study, researchers have examined the effect of cognitive therapy on cognitive and other symptoms in 42 patients with PD.
Patients (mean age, 68) did not have dementia or major depression, and most patients had mild PD (stage 2). Cognitive therapy was composed of paper-and-pencil tasks with a gradually increasing level of cognitive effort and demand in multiple areas. The group sessions, conducted by a psychologist, were 60 minutes, 3 days per week, for 3 months. The control group received occupational group activities on the same schedule.
Compared with controls, patients receiv…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)