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. 2020 Apr 14:3:100052.
doi: 10.1016/j.prdoa.2020.100052. eCollection 2020.

Partners' view after subthalamic deep brain stimulation: Better relationships despite patients being less active

Heide Baumann-Vogel  1   2 , Guy Bodenmann  3 , Jonas Schmid  1 , Daniel Waldvogel  1 , Christian Ineichen  1 , Christian R Baumann  1   4
Affiliations

Partners' view after subthalamic deep brain stimulation: Better relationships despite patients being less active

Heide Baumann-Vogel et al. Clin Park Relat Disord. .

Abstract

Introduction: After deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), Parkinson patients report difficulties in the relationship with their partners. The partners' experience after DBS appears to be variable and complex. Purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the partners' perspective on the relationship following STN-DBS.

Subjects and methods: We conducted a postoperative questionnaire assessment in 56 partners of Parkinson patients with STN-DBS, using questionnaires addressing partnership satisfaction, dyadic coping, and role allocation in duties and activities of daily living.

Results: Regarding overall relationship satisfaction after surgery, 40% of partners were happier with their relationship than before DBS, and 14% were less satisfied. Partners reported that patients involved themselves distinctly less in duties and activities of daily living, leaving partners to take over. A need for more professional support for the relationship following surgery was noted by 27% of the partners.

Conclusion: Although quality of relationship and dyadic coping improved or remained unchanged according to the majority of partners, patients became less prone to take over common duties and activities despite being in a better and more stable motor state. Potential conflicts and problems in role allocation in relationships following DBS need to be addressed in patients care.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Deep brain stimulation; Dyadic coping; Parkinson's disease; Partnership satisfaction; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Baumann-Vogel reports no disclosures. Dr. Bodenmann reports no disclosures. Mr. Schmid reports no disclosures. Dr. Waldvogel reports no disclosures. Dr. Ineichen reports no disclosures. Dr. Baumann received lecture fees from Roche Pharma and UCB Pharma and was serving as a consultant for AbbVie Pharma and Roche Pharma. He received royalties from UpToDate and Springer. He receives funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Hurka Foundation, the Koetser Foundation, the Swiss Brain Foundation, AbbVie Pharma and the University of Zurich.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overall satisfaction with the relationship; specific relationship-associated topics, assessed with PFB-K, the Partnerschaftsfragebogen-Kurzfassung (short version of the German Partnership Questionnaire), and dyadic coping, assessed with an adapted Dyadic Coping Inventory. All values solely from partners' perspectives. In light red mild deterioration, in dark red severe deterioration; in gray unchanged values, in light green mild improvement, in dark green strong improvement.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Taking over of partnership-related duties and activities by either the patient (Pt) or the partner (Pr). All values solely from partners' perspectives. Red bars indicate less activities than before DBS, gray bars indicate no changes in taking over of duties and activities, and green bars indicate that Pt or Pr became more engaged in the respective fields after DBS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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