Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Patients With Parkinson’s Disease and Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder

Background Depression has been recognized as a common feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in PD patients. Objective The authors sought to determine whether cognitive– behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in the treatment of depression within the context of PD (dPD). Method The authors enrolled 8 depressed PD patients into an open treatment study of 12 weeks of individual CBT treatment. Results There was a significant linear decrease in mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (17-item) scores over Weeks 0 to 12, and 57% of patients (4/7) met criteria for remission at endpoint. Conclusion This uncontrolled study suggests that CBT may be effective in treating dPD and may be an alternative or adjunct to pharmacological treatment.