Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Apr 15;20(4):e0310578.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310578. eCollection 2025.

The relationship between physical function and psychological symptoms in Parkinson's: Perceptions of People with Parkinson's and Carers

Philip Hodgson  1   2 , Alastair Jordan  1 , Charikleia Sinani  1 , Divine Charura  1
Affiliations

The relationship between physical function and psychological symptoms in Parkinson's: Perceptions of People with Parkinson's and Carers

Philip Hodgson et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: People with Parkinson's (PwP) can experience both physical and psychological symptoms, and understanding the perspectives of people affected is crucial for improved management, and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: This online survey aimed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the subjectively experienced physical and psychological symptoms by PwP and their carers, while also considering the influence of personal roles and past symptom experiences.

Methods: A UK-wide survey of 251 PwP and 62 carers was conducted. The survey focused on reported diagnosed and non-diagnosed psychological symptoms experienced, their onset, and the perceived impact of physical and psychological symptoms on one another. Responses were summarised using descriptive statistics.

Results: A substantial proportion of respondents reported at least one diagnosed psychological condition (38.5%) or undiagnosed psychological symptoms (44.6%) such as anxiety and depression. Half of respondents reported perceiving a bi-directional interaction between physical and psychological symptoms, with this perception most reported in people with prior experience of psychological symptoms. Our sample shows that while PwP and carers have similar views on the impact of psychological symptoms, carers perceive the impact of physical symptoms to be greater than PwP.

Conclusions: PwP and carers appear to perceive an interaction between physical and psychological symptoms in Parkinson's, noting that psychological symptoms frequently precede Parkinson's diagnosis but are often under-recognised. Improved awareness of the potential link between physical and psychological symptoms in PwP may help to improve assessment, and onward referral processes to enhance care. Further research may assist in identifying potential disease subtypes and allow the prediction of changes in physical and psychological presentation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Perceived Symptom Interactions.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Details of psychological diagnoses and symptoms reported, and the frequency of reported psychological diagnoses and symptoms.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Diagnoses/Symptoms reportedly experienced at each timepoint.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Grover S, Somaiya M, Kumar S, Avasthi A. Psychiatric aspects of Parkinson’s disease. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2015;6(1):65–76. doi: 10.4103/0976-3147.143197 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Burchill E, Watson CJ, Fanshawe JB, Badenoch JB, Rengasamy E, Ghanem DA, et al.. The impact of psychiatric comorbidity on Parkinson’s disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2024;39:100870. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100870 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Alamri YA. Mental health and Parkinson’s disease: from the cradle to the grave. Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(634):258–9. doi: 10.3399/bjgp15X684985 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sjödahl Hammarlund C, Westergren A, Åström I, Edberg A-K, Hagell P. The Impact of Living with Parkinson’s Disease: Balancing within a Web of Needs and Demands. Parkinsons Dis. 2018;2018:4598651. doi: 10.1155/2018/4598651 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. de Rijk C, Bijl RV. Prevalence of mental disorders in persons with Parkinson’s disease. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1998;142(1):27–31. - PubMed