Insight PD

Anxiety and Parkinson’s

Posted Friday, 22 September 2023

Square wooden scrabble blocks in background. Seven of the blocks have letters on them and spell Anxiety.

"Up to 40% of people with Parkinson's experience clinically significant anxiety. This anxiety can be a factor of the psychological reaction to the stress of the illness or related to the neurochemical changes of the disease itself, or a combination of both."

Quote from Walsh K, Bennett G, Parkinson's disease and anxiety, Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2001;77:89-93

Types of Anxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder
Panic attacks
Phobia
Social anxiety disorder / social phobia

Any of these can overlap and many people will experience more than one type of anxiety.

Treating anxiety

Learn how to relax and recognise anxiety raising triggers - relaxation techniques can be very effective in relieving anxiety.
Regular exercise can all help to control anxiety.
Reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine, particularly late in the evening.
Anxiety related to motor fluctuations may be best managed by adjusting Parkinson’s medications.
Talking with close friends or family will often help reduce feelings of anxiety, or talking therapies such as
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has been shown to offer effective psychological treatment for anxiety disorders.

Hospital admissions and anxiety

Going into hospital can be an anxious time and for people with Parkinson’s.

Medications on Time will help reduce anxiety caused by ‘wearing off’ or worry of ‘wearing off’.
Environmental factors such as being in an acute hospital setting will enhance anxiety, this can exacerbate other Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremor.
Infections can trigger irrational fears associated with anxiety.

Information from Parkinson’s UK (2023) and Parkinson’s Europe (2023)