Social withdrawal in Parkinson's disease: A scoping review.
Soojung Ahn, Kristen Springer, Jessie S Gibson
PMID 36332441WHAT IT FOUND
Parkinson's social withdrawal is linked to motor symptoms, speech difficulty, anxiety, depression, stigma and cognitive change.
Some community activity and self-management programs were reported to improve participation, but the review did not prove cause.
Key findings
01Social withdrawal in Parkinson's disease was attributed to physical, psychiatric, cognitive symptoms and shame or stigma.
02In one UK survey, 54% of individuals with PD reported discomfort and nervousness about going out in public; in another study, 43% of PD participants were clinically diagnosed with social phobia.
03A randomized trial of a 12-month community-based Argentine Tango program increased participation in instrumental, leisure and social activities, and a PD boxing program helped maintain social connectedness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a scoping review, and the included studies were not assessed for quality. Most evidence on associated factors came from cross-sectional studies, so it cannot show cause and effect. The review used a broad definition and excluded studies that measured only loneliness, stigma, social support, social satisfaction or apathy, so related experiences may be missing. Different studies used different concepts and measures for social withdrawal. This limits comparison. Only English-language published studies were included, and grey literature was not searched. Few studies examined consequences for caregivers or health outcomes beyond quality of life, depression and cognition.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that dance, boxing or self-management programs cause improved social participation. The review did not assess study quality, and most association evidence was cross-sectional.