Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Yinping Wu, Tiantian Zhai, Xiaowei Ma
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD), pooling 21 randomized controlled trials involving 892 patients. Compared with control conditions, CBT was associated with lower anxiety symptoms across 16 studies (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.50; P < 0.001) and lower depressive symptoms across 14 studies (SMD = -0.61, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.44; P < 0.001). The authors report substantial between-study heterogeneity and call for larger trials with standardized outcomes and longer follow-up.
Key findings
- Across 16 trials, CBT was associated with reduced anxiety symptoms (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.50; P < 0.001; I 2 = 79.1%).
- Across 14 trials, CBT was associated with reduced depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.61, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.44; P < 0.001; I 2 = 86.6%).
- Subgroup analyses found greater effects with interventions lasting more than 10 weeks and population-adapted measures.
Why it matters
Anxiety and depression are common non-motor symptoms in PD and can compromise health-related quality of life. The pooled trial findings suggest CBT may help address both symptom domains, offering evidence for a structured psychological approach alongside the broader management of PD. However, substantial heterogeneity means the size of benefit may vary across interventions and settings.
What to keep in mind
Between-study heterogeneity was substantial, and intervention delivery varied. The authors also identify the need for larger multicenter trials, standardized disease-specific outcomes, and longer follow-up.