Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Neurological disorders — apart from affecting the patient physiologically, have the potential to impair the mental health of the affected to a great extent.
A person suffering from a neurological condition may not be able to lead a normal life. The physiological drawbacks which hold him/her back might eventually push the patient into depression.
The most common neurological conditions which render people totally dependent on others are Parkinson’s disease and Alzhemier’s disease.
A project undertaken by the Parkinson’s Foundation called Parkinson’s Outcomes Project concluded that at least 50 percent of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience depression at some point during the course of their disease.
The project also noted that depression and anxiety have the greatest impact on health status, even more than the motor impairments commonly associated with the disease.
Moreover, undergoing surgeries or the intake of drugs is not something that everyone can bear. So, is there a way which can bypass all the pain and side effects?
The answer is yes. And it is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
CBT is a talking therapy that helps the patient to manage problems by changing the way he/she thinks and behaves. The therapy helps the affected to deal with their serious issues by breaking them down into smaller and separate parts.
Unlike other therapies, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.
What happens during CBT sessions?
After the therapy is recommended, the patient will undergo a session with the therapist once a week. A normal course will include from 5 to 20 sessions with each lasting for around 60 minutes.
However, it completely depends on the patient’s willingness and the assessment of the therapist.
First, the problem will be broken down into separate parts i.e the patient’s thoughts, physical feelings, and actions. The therapist will work on the negative effect all these broken down parts have on the patient and subsequently help to change that.
After pointing out the negatives and the ways to tackle them, the patient will be asked to implement the changes in his/her daily life.
The final aim of the therapy is to learn to apply the skills during the sessions in one's daily routine.
These changes can be broadly divided into three categories:
Exercise — One of the activities will be identifying a daily exercise which will help take one’s mind off all the negativities.
Socialize — This activity should be kept under check in the beginning. One should start with answering phone calls and greeting people. Throwing a party shouldn’t be the first step.
Self-soothe — Every day, indulge in an activity that makes you feel good. For example, enjoying a cup of tea or listening to music.
How can CBT help in treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
Let us begin by understanding what Parkinson’s disease is.
It is a very common neurodegenerative condition which is caused by the death of nerve cells and occurs mostly in people aged between 50 to 65. However, in many cases, the disease has reported an early onset too and can occur at earlier ages as well. .
The symptoms, which occur over time include:
Here CBT — a drug-free, painless method can be put to use in the treatment of Parkinson’s.
Plexus, a Bangalore based Neuro and stem cell research centre founded by Dr Na’eem Sadiq, has given a new hope to people who have been enduring neurological disorders including Parkinson’s.
Studies have proven that stem cell therapy along with intense physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, considerably halts the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
At Plexus, while the Regenerative Rehabilitation Program (stem cell therapy) has dealt with the physiological aspects of Parkinson’s, CBT is undertaken by a team which includes a neuro-psychiatrist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a speech and language pathologist.
They make a detailed assessment of the deficits and set time-bound achievable goals to cater to the patient’s needs.
It is pertinent to mention that intense physiotherapy sessions which patients undergo at Plexus, especially the ones suffering from Parkinson’s, have shown considerable improvement physically as well as mentally.
Let's consider the case of 58-year old Arvind Swamy (name changed) who had been enduring Parkinson’s. Swamy, a Bangalore-based businessman had surrendered before his condition when he came to Plexus in 2015. After the initial assessment, the therapists found that he believed that there was ‘no hope for improvement’.
However, after undergoing treatment, within two months, Swamy was a changed man. It was noted that the biggest change took place in his mental outlook.
He began to dismiss the overwhelming negative attitude towards his condition and adopted a more positive outlook. With his hope restored, Swamy fought his condition with his renewed positivity.
After overcoming his hopeless state, even his mumbling voice was replaced with a confident tone!
What Swamy considered impossible before coming to Plexus, became a reality. His willingness to fight Parkinson’s supported by CBT and regenerative rehabilitation, helped him get back in business!
A person suffering from a neurological condition may not be able to lead a normal life. The physiological drawbacks which hold him/her back might eventually push the patient into depression.
The most common neurological conditions which render people totally dependent on others are Parkinson’s disease and Alzhemier’s disease.
A project undertaken by the Parkinson’s Foundation called Parkinson’s Outcomes Project concluded that at least 50 percent of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience depression at some point during the course of their disease.
The project also noted that depression and anxiety have the greatest impact on health status, even more than the motor impairments commonly associated with the disease.
Moreover, undergoing surgeries or the intake of drugs is not something that everyone can bear. So, is there a way which can bypass all the pain and side effects?
The answer is yes. And it is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
CBT is a talking therapy that helps the patient to manage problems by changing the way he/she thinks and behaves. The therapy helps the affected to deal with their serious issues by breaking them down into smaller and separate parts.
Unlike other therapies, CBT deals with your current problems, rather than focusing on issues from your past. It looks for practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis.
What happens during CBT sessions?
After the therapy is recommended, the patient will undergo a session with the therapist once a week. A normal course will include from 5 to 20 sessions with each lasting for around 60 minutes.
However, it completely depends on the patient’s willingness and the assessment of the therapist.
First, the problem will be broken down into separate parts i.e the patient’s thoughts, physical feelings, and actions. The therapist will work on the negative effect all these broken down parts have on the patient and subsequently help to change that.
After pointing out the negatives and the ways to tackle them, the patient will be asked to implement the changes in his/her daily life.
The final aim of the therapy is to learn to apply the skills during the sessions in one's daily routine.
These changes can be broadly divided into three categories:
Exercise — One of the activities will be identifying a daily exercise which will help take one’s mind off all the negativities.
Socialize — This activity should be kept under check in the beginning. One should start with answering phone calls and greeting people. Throwing a party shouldn’t be the first step.
Self-soothe — Every day, indulge in an activity that makes you feel good. For example, enjoying a cup of tea or listening to music.
How can CBT help in treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
Let us begin by understanding what Parkinson’s disease is.
It is a very common neurodegenerative condition which is caused by the death of nerve cells and occurs mostly in people aged between 50 to 65. However, in many cases, the disease has reported an early onset too and can occur at earlier ages as well. .
The symptoms, which occur over time include:
- Tremors
- Slowed movement
- Changes in walking
- Rigid muscles
- Impaired posture and balance
- Loss of involuntary movements
- Speech changes
- Writing changes
Here CBT — a drug-free, painless method can be put to use in the treatment of Parkinson’s.
Plexus, a Bangalore based Neuro and stem cell research centre founded by Dr Na’eem Sadiq, has given a new hope to people who have been enduring neurological disorders including Parkinson’s.
Studies have proven that stem cell therapy along with intense physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, considerably halts the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
At Plexus, while the Regenerative Rehabilitation Program (stem cell therapy) has dealt with the physiological aspects of Parkinson’s, CBT is undertaken by a team which includes a neuro-psychiatrist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a speech and language pathologist.
They make a detailed assessment of the deficits and set time-bound achievable goals to cater to the patient’s needs.
It is pertinent to mention that intense physiotherapy sessions which patients undergo at Plexus, especially the ones suffering from Parkinson’s, have shown considerable improvement physically as well as mentally.
Let's consider the case of 58-year old Arvind Swamy (name changed) who had been enduring Parkinson’s. Swamy, a Bangalore-based businessman had surrendered before his condition when he came to Plexus in 2015. After the initial assessment, the therapists found that he believed that there was ‘no hope for improvement’.
However, after undergoing treatment, within two months, Swamy was a changed man. It was noted that the biggest change took place in his mental outlook.
He began to dismiss the overwhelming negative attitude towards his condition and adopted a more positive outlook. With his hope restored, Swamy fought his condition with his renewed positivity.
After overcoming his hopeless state, even his mumbling voice was replaced with a confident tone!
What Swamy considered impossible before coming to Plexus, became a reality. His willingness to fight Parkinson’s supported by CBT and regenerative rehabilitation, helped him get back in business!
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