Lived experiences, depression, and quality of life in Korean women with Parkinson disease after deep brain stimulation: a multimethod study.
Mi Sun Kim, Sun Ju Chung
PMID 41090272WHAT IT FOUND
Quality of life and depression did not clearly improve in Korean women with Parkinson disease after deep brain stimulation, although motor symptoms improved.
They described pain, visible device changes, battery costs, and fear of shutdown.
Key findings
01Motor symptom scores improved significantly after DBS.
02Quality-of-life subdomains and depression scores did not improve significantly.
03Interviews identified five recurring sources of dissatisfaction: stress from visible surgical changes, pain at implantation sites, perceived loss of DBS effectiveness, battery replacement costs, and anxiety when the device is off.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 12 women from one hospital, so it cannot show what happens in larger or more diverse groups. The study compared only before and after scores in the same women, so changes cannot be separated from disease progression, medication, or other care. Participants were required to have enough cognitive ability to complete questionnaires and interviews, so the findings may not apply to women with dementia or severe cognitive impairment. Depression and quality of life were measured retrospectively from records, and some comparisons were secondary subgroup analyses. Qualitative themes came from a small purposive sample and cannot establish how common these experiences are.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the improved motor scores as proof that DBS improves quality of life or depression. Quality of life and depression did not clearly improve, and the study included only 12 women.