Well-being and distress of patients with Parkinson's disease: a comparative investigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Vescovelli ◽  
Daniele Sarti ◽  
Chiara Ruini
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Comparative Investigation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Cross Sectional

ABSTRACTBackground:Psychological resources, such as psychological well-being (PWB) and life satisfaction (LS) can aid individuals suffering from chronic illnesses to cope with their illness. The aim of this study was to investigate PWB, LS, quality of life (QoL), and distress in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to compare them with healthy controls.Methods:One hundred and thirteen individuals were recruited. Fifty of the participants suffered from PD, while 53 individuals reported other non-neurological diseases. PD patients were assessed through medical routine examinations. All participants had to be devoid of severe cognitive impairment. They were administered self-report questionnaires to measure PWB, LS, QoL, and distress. A cross-sectional comparative design was applied.Results:PD patients reported higher general PWB than controls with the exception of the autonomy subscale where the PD patients scored lower. However, they also reported higher distress (anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and hostility-irritability), lower LS, and poorer QoL compared to controls. In regressive models, general PWB and LS were significantly correlated to the presence of PD, to its functional impairments, and not to other socio-demographic variables.Conclusions:Findings confirmed previous literature on other neurological conditions, showing that PD may be associated with greater psychological distress, lower levels of LS and QoL. At the same time, PD patients may preserve their PWB, which is a protective factor for mental and physical health. The presence of these psychological resources is inversely related to functional impairments. Future studies should better investigate the pattern of PWB in PD.

scholarly journals Burden of adult neurological diseases in Odeda Area, Southwest Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e000062
Author(s):  
Folajimi Morenikeji Otubogun ◽  
Rufus Akinyemi ◽  
Sola Ogunniyi
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Primary Headaches ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Southwest Nigeria

BackgroundFew population-based studies have been conducted to determine the burden of neurological diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. A better understanding of the magnitude and impact of these disorders is pivotal to effective planning and provision of neurological services.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 2392 adults in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria was conducted between May and June 2015. Trained non-medical interviewers administered a screening instrument designed to measure the prevalence of neurological diseases and disability, while positive responders were subsequently examined by neurologists. Diagnoses were made clinically according to well-established criteria.ResultsThe mean age of respondents was 37.2±16.1 years. A total of 842 cases of neurological diseases/disability were diagnosed in 815 individuals (26 individuals with more than one disorder). The all-cause neurological morbidity rate was 352 per 1000, while the crude prevalence rates of common neurological disorders were 304.3 per 1000 for primary headaches, 16.3 per 1000 for tropical ataxic neuropathy, 7.11 per 1000 for stroke, 5.85 per 1000 for essential tremor and 4.18 per 1000 for Parkinson’s disease. Neurological years lost due to disability was 2806.18 per 100 000.ConclusionThis study provides evidence of a high neurological disease burden within the communities surveyed, which may be representative of Southwest Nigeria. In comparison with findings from previous studies within the same region, this report suggests a persistence of toxiconutritional disorders and postinfectious neurological sequelae on one hand and increased prevalence of non-communicable neurological disorders such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

scholarly journals Gratitude in infertility: a cross-sectional examination of dispositional gratitude in coping with infertility-related stress in women undergoing IVF

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobo H P Lau ◽  
Sylvia H Yao ◽  
Michelle Y J Tam ◽  
Cecilia L W Chan ◽  
Ernest H Y Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unexplained Infertility ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Coping Process ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Related Stress

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Do sense of meaning and acceptance mediate the relationships between gratitude and infertility-related stress among women undergoing IVF? SUMMARY ANSWER Among women undergoing IVF, the negative relationships between gratitude and infertility-related stress are explained by a general sense of meaningfulness and acceptance of life. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Infertility experts increasingly call for a re-balancing of the deficit-based view of psychosocial adjustment in IVF, which has been heavily dominated by studies of risk factors and psychological distress. Attention has been given to strength-based perspectives that emphasize character strengths and personal growth. Gratitude has been found to be a potent protective factor in coping with life stressors; however, its salutary effects and protective processes for infertile women undergoing IVF are yet to be explored. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study utilized baseline data of a randomized controlled trial for mind–body interventions with 357 Hong Kong Chinese women. Data collection was conducted between January 2015 and December 2017. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS Eligible women were approached by a research assistant immediately after their first medical consultation at an ART centre of a major university-affiliated hospital. Participants were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire-6, the Fertility Problem Inventory, and the Holistic Well-Being Scale. Mediation analyses were conducted with bootstrapped samples. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 494 women who were approached, 357 (72.3%) provided informed consent and participated in the study. Results show that gratitude was negatively associated with all infertility-related stress domains (rs = −0.19 to −0.36), and these relationships are mediated by acceptance and loss of sense of meaning. Further, the link between gratitude and relationship concerns is mediated by loss of sense of meaning in women with a definable cause of infertility (95% CI = [−0.31, −0.08]), but by acceptance among those with unexplained infertility (95% CI = [−0.33, −0.01]). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The cross-sectional nature of the study precluded inferences of causality. Self-selection and self-report biases could be present. Our findings may not be readily generalizable to women who do not intend to undergo psychosocial intervention for their infertility or ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings support the salutary effects of gratitude in coping with IVF and highlight the role of unexplained infertility in the coping process. These findings offer preliminary support to the use of psychosocial interventions in promoting gratitude, acceptance, and meaning reconstruction for reducing infertility-related stress in women undergoing IVF. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the Hong Kong University Grant Council—General Research Fund (HKU27400414). All authors declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER HKUCTR-1984.

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE, AND THEIR DECLARED FEELING OF BURDEN

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-405
Author(s):  
Paulina Golińska ◽  
Mariola Bidzan ◽  
Jason W. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Sense Of Coherence ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Difficult Situation

The subject literature identifies many predictors of a feeling of burden, yet it often ignores aspects of the psychological and social functioning of caregivers, i.e., resources for efficiently coping with a difficult situation. This study aimed to verify the predictors of a feeling of burden experienced by the caregivers of individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease, taking into account the cognitive functioning of the patients as well as the psychological resources and social competences of the caregivers themselves. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. It included a neuropsychiatric examination of the patients, with a special focus on executive functions, as well as an assessment of the psychological and social resources of their caregivers using standard psychometric methods. Self esteem was measured using the SES scale and sense of coherence was measured using SOC-29. The statistical analysis included correlation analysis and multiple hierarchical regression. The duration of the disease as well as cognitive impairments, especially executive dysfunction, are significant predictors of a feeling of burden. A high sense of coherence is associated with a positive assessment of one’s own resources in the context of coping with a difficult situation. The feeling of burden experienced by caregivers of individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disorders is a complex phenomenon, composed of many factors. The predictors discusse in this study point to various individual differences in the psychological resources possessed by caregivers.

Falls in patients with Parkinson’s disease from China: A Cross-sectional Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuqi Huang ◽  
Nannan Li ◽  
Shuangyan Tu ◽  
Xiaoyi Sun ◽  
Pingqiao Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background Falling is a common and devastating problem in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. However, the factors associated with fall among Chinese PD population remain unclear. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and potential factors independently contribute to falls in patients with PD. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited one hundred and ninety-seven PD patients from West China Hospital. According to patients or their caregivers’ memory divided them into two different groups: fallers and non-fallers. Demographical information, clinical features and pharmacological conditions of patients were all collected. Results Out of 197 patients (mean age 63.2±9.0 years) 55.3% (110/197) patients had at least one fall in the half of year. Factors associated with falls in PD including: sex, age, co-disease condition, clinical symptoms, the severity of disease, doing activities, the function of balance, cognition, and the emotional conditions. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found by binary regression in Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) stage (OR = 11.500, 95% CI = 2.801-47.214, P = 0.001), the Hamilton Depression (HAMD-24) Rating Scale (OR = 1.296, 95% CI = 1.034-1.296, P = 0.011) and the Falls Efficacy (FES) Scale (OR = 1.028, 95% CI = 1.004-1.053, P = 0.021). However, doing exercise (OR = 0.159, 95% CI = 0.046-0.555, P = 0.004) is a protective factor for PD patients. Conclusions Patients with severe disease, bad psychological condition will increase the risk of falling. Monitoring disease progress and pay more attention on non-motor symptoms are needed while patients in the mild stage.

scholarly journals Individual differences and changes in lifestyle behaviours predict decreased subjective well-being during COVID-19 restrictions in an Australian sample

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Brindal ◽  
Jillian C Ryan ◽  
Naomi Kakoschke ◽  
Sinead Golley ◽  
Ian T Zajac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Australian Sample

Abstract Background Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, social distancing practices were introduced to curb infection rates in many countries. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of these restrictions on behaviours and well-being and whether individual differences predict changes in well-being. Methods Australian adults participated in a cross-sectional, online survey during May 2020. The survey captured demographic information; health behaviours; personality traits; life satisfaction and COVID-19-related attitudes, financial concerns, perceived risks and impacts. Results In total, 3745 (86.8% of 4313) participants completed all items. Participants were mostly female (85.7%) and 56.4 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12.6) on average. Over 95.0% of the sample indicated they had been social distancing or isolating. Health behaviours and well-being had generally worsened, with social connections being the most negatively affected. Life satisfaction was significantly lower since restrictions. For changes in life satisfaction, extroversion was a risk factor and openness to experience was a protective factor. Conclusions Overall, well-being was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing particularly in this sample containing mainly older women. In future, it will be crucial to understand why and who may be differentially affected, to encourage behaviours that are protective of well-being.

scholarly journals Validation of IMU-based gait event detection during curved walking and turning in older adults and Parkinson’s Disease patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbin Romijnders ◽  
Elke Warmerdam ◽  
Clint Hansen ◽  
Julius Welzel ◽  
Gerhard Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Detection Performance ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Optical Motion ◽  
Task Conditions

Abstract Background Identification of individual gait events is essential for clinical gait analysis, because it can be used for diagnostic purposes or tracking disease progression in neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Previous research has shown that gait events can be detected from a shank-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU), however detection performance was often evaluated only from straight-line walking. For use in daily life, the detection performance needs to be evaluated in curved walking and turning as well as in single-task and dual-task conditions. Methods Participants (older adults, people with Parkinson’s disease, or people who had suffered from a stroke) performed three different walking trials: (1) straight-line walking, (2) slalom walking, (3) Stroop-and-walk trial. An optical motion capture system was used a reference system. Markers were attached to the heel and toe regions of the shoe, and participants wore IMUs on the lateral sides of both shanks. The angular velocity of the shank IMUs was used to detect instances of initial foot contact (IC) and final foot contact (FC), which were compared to reference values obtained from the marker trajectories. Results The detection method showed high recall, precision and F1 scores in different populations for both initial contacts and final contacts during straight-line walking (IC: recall $$=$$ = 100%, precision $$=$$ = 100%, F1 score $$=$$ = 100%; FC: recall $$=$$ = 100%, precision $$=$$ = 100%, F1 score $$=$$ = 100%), slalom walking (IC: recall $$=$$ = 100%, precision $$\ge$$ ≥ 99%, F1 score $$=$$ = 100%; FC: recall $$=$$ = 100%, precision $$\ge$$ ≥ 99%, F1 score $$=$$ = 100%), and turning (IC: recall $$\ge$$ ≥ 85%, precision $$\ge$$ ≥ 95%, F1 score $$\ge$$ ≥ 91%; FC: recall $$\ge$$ ≥ 84%, precision $$\ge$$ ≥ 95%, F1 score $$\ge$$ ≥ 89%). Conclusions Shank-mounted IMUs can be used to detect gait events during straight-line walking, slalom walking and turning. However, more false events were observed during turning and more events were missed during turning. For use in daily life we recommend identifying turning before extracting temporal gait parameters from identified gait events.

scholarly journals Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Dimensions of Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease Enrolled in an Association of Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 771
Author(s):  
Fany Chuquilín-Arista ◽  
Tania Álvarez-Avellón ◽  
Manuel Menéndez-González
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms. Depression and anxiety are common manifestations in PD and may be determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study is to determine the association of depression and anxiety with the dimensions of HRQoL in subjects with PD enrolled in an association of patients. Ninety-five community-based patients with PD diagnosis at different disease stages were studied. HRQoL was assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39); depression and anxiety were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. Our results showed that depression and anxiety were negatively associated with HRQoL measured by PDSI. Higher motor dysfunction measured by Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging was also associated with worse HRQoL. Depression was the most influential variable in the model. All PDQ-39 dimensions except social support and bodily discomfort were associated with depression. Anxiety was associated with the emotional well-being and bodily discomfort dimensions. These results suggest that physicians should pay attention to the presence of psychiatric symptoms and treat them appropriately.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT-SL) in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Travis H. Turner ◽  
Alexandra Atkins ◽  
Richard S.E. Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Capacity Assessment

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and highly associated with loss of independence, caregiver burden, and assisted living placement. The need for cognitive functional capacity tools validated for use in PD clinical and research applications has thus been emphasized in the literature. The Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT-SL) is a tablet-based instrument that assesses proficiency for performing real world tasks in a highly realistic environment. Objective: The present study explored application of the VRFCAT-SL in clinical assessments of patients with PD. Specifically, we examined associations between VRFCAT-SL performance and measures of cognition, motor severity, and self-reported cognitive functioning. Methods: The VRFCAT-SL was completed by a sample of 29 PD patients seen in clinic for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Fifteen patients met Movement Disorders Society Task Force criteria for mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI); no patients were diagnosed with dementia. Non-parametric correlations between VRFCAT-SL performance and standardized neuropsychological tests and clinical measures were examined. Results: VRFCAT-SL performance was moderately associated with global rank on neuropsychological testing and discriminated PD-MCI. Follow-up analyses found completion time was associated with visual memory, sustained attention, and set-switching, while errors were associated with psychomotor inhibition. No clinical or motor measures were associated with VRFCAT-SL performance. Self-report was not associated with VRFCAT-SL or neuropsychological test performance. Conclusion: The VRFCAT-SL appears to provide a useful measure of cognitive functional capacity that is not confounded by PD motor symptoms. Future studies will examine utility in PD dementia.

scholarly journals Recent Insights into the Interplay of Alpha-Synuclein and Sphingolipid Signaling in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6277
Author(s):  
Joanna A. Motyl ◽  
Joanna B. Strosznajder ◽  
Agnieszka Wencel ◽  
Robert P. Strosznajder
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Alpha Synuclein ◽  
Lipid Mediator ◽  
Cell Defense ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach ◽  
S1p Receptor

Molecular studies have provided increasing evidence that Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a protein conformational disease, where the spread of alpha-synuclein (ASN) pathology along the neuraxis correlates with clinical disease outcome. Pathogenic forms of ASN evoke oxidative stress (OS), neuroinflammation, and protein alterations in neighboring cells, thereby intensifying ASN toxicity, neurodegeneration, and neuronal death. A number of evidence suggest that homeostasis between bioactive sphingolipids with opposing function—e.g., sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide—is essential in pro-survival signaling and cell defense against OS. In contrast, imbalance of the “sphingolipid biostat” favoring pro-oxidative/pro-apoptotic ceramide-mediated changes have been indicated in PD and other neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, we focused on the role of sphingolipid alterations in ASN burden, as well as in a vast range of its neurotoxic effects. Sphingolipid homeostasis is principally directed by sphingosine kinases (SphKs), which synthesize S1P—a potent lipid mediator regulating cell fate and inflammatory response—making SphK/S1P signaling an essential pharmacological target. A growing number of studies have shown that S1P receptor modulators, and agonists are promising protectants in several neurological diseases. This review demonstrates the relationship between ASN toxicity and alteration of SphK-dependent S1P signaling in OS, neuroinflammation, and neuronal death. Moreover, we discuss the S1P receptor-mediated pathways as a novel promising therapeutic approach in PD.

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