A Pilot Study for a Self-Managed Intervention for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease
A Pilot Study for a Self-Managed Intervention for Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease
A mixed methods randomized controlled feasibility and acceptability study will be conducted to determine the effects of a self-managed, focused breathing intervention on anxiety in persons who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
This study is being conducted to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using focused breathing as a self managed, non-pharmacologic intervention for anxiety experienced by those with Parkinson's disease. Participants meeting eligibility criteria will be randomized to either an intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group will be taught how to perform focused breathing and asked to practice it twice daily for six weeks for a minimum of four minutes each time. Anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, self-efficacy and quality of life with be measured in participants in both the intervention group before beginning to practice focused breathing as well as in the control group. After six weeks of practice the same measurements will be collected from the intervention group. Additionally, intervention participants will participate in a brief interview at the end of their six weeks of practice. Control group participants will be taught how to perform focused breathing six weeks at the end of a six week wait-period, following collection of data using the aforementioned measures..
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: