Reducing depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: The effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy

Introduction: /Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy in depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Tehran city. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with experimental and control groups at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Patients 60-75 years old with Parkinson's disease centers and psychiatric services made up the study population. Based on a random sample of 90 people in Tehran city who scored highly on both the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Scale, in two 45-person groups-the experimental group and the control group-were randomly assigned. The experimental group underwent group cognitive behavioral therapy for 8 weeks, while the control group just received training once per week. Methods of analysis of variance with repeated measures were employed to test the hypotheses.Results: The outcomes showed the independent variable is successful in lowering symptoms of anxiety and depression. Patients with Parkinson's disease who participated in group cognitive behavioral therapy for stress reduction showed a reduction in their anxiety and depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Effective psychological interventions, like group cognitive behavioral therapy, can improve mood, lessen anxiety and depression, and help patients adhere more closely to treatment guidelines. As a result, these patients can help prevent the complications of Parkinson's disease and take effective action to raise their level of physical and mental health.