How Does a Psychologist Fit into Your Parkinson’s Care?

Key Takeaways

Parkinson’s isn’t just a movement disorder. Emotional and cognitive symptoms like depression, anxiety, and memory issues can be equally disruptive.
Psychologists play a vital role in care by providing therapy, conducting assessments, and supporting both patients and caregivers through these mental health challenges.
Seeking psychological support can ease symptoms, improve quality of life, and help prevent more serious issues down the line.

People who don’t have a whole lot of experience with Parkinson’s disease typically think of it as a movement disorder. If you fall into this camp (even if you’ve been diagnosed!), you might wonder what the point of having a psychologist is in terms of helping with PD.

However, as anyone who has dealt with the disease for a while knows, the emotional and cognitive symptoms can be just as debilitating. Depression, anxiety, apathy, hallucinations, and memory issues are common. In fact, many of them can appear long before someone is given a formal PD diagnosis.

So, what role does a psychologist play in Parkinson’s care? A critical one. Left untreated, symptoms like these can reduce your quality of life, keep you from following through with your treatment, and increase the risk of early institutionalization.

Let’s dig into a psychologist’s role more specifically, as well as what you can expect from them.

Your Psychologist’s Roles and Responsibilities in Helping You Deal with Parkinson’s

Whether you are working with a psychologist or a neuropsychologist, their job is to provide assessment, therapy, and education to support the emotional and cognitive health of people with PD. Here’s what that means more specifically.

Their work focuses on:

Diagnosing depression, anxiety, and cognitive changes

Delivering evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing

Helping patients cope with the emotional burden of chronic illness

Supporting caregivers through counseling and psychoeducation

Contributing to surgical evaluations and post-surgical care

In short, in collaboration with psychiatrists (who manage medications), psychologists focus on behavioral and emotional strategies designed to improve functioning and well-being.

How Often Should You See a Psychologist?

This is one of those tough questions where the answer is different for every person. Some may only need periodic support for specific issues. Others may find that they benefit from monthly or weekly sessions.

In general, psychological support can be helpful at many stages of Parkinson’s, but especially when:

You or your loved one is experiencing mood changes such as sadness, irritability, hopelessness, or apathy
There are signs of cognitive issues, such as memory problems or trouble planning and focusing
Hallucinations or delusions emerge (which often occurs in later stages)
You are preparing for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery
The caregiving burden becomes emotionally overwhelming
You feel disconnected, unmotivated, or find it difficult to maintain daily routines

The key thing to remember is that the earlier you seek out mental health care, the more likely it is to prevent more severe symptoms and improve long-term outcomes. In other words, don’t wait to seek out help.

What Can You Expect from a Typical Appointment?

A psychologist may begin by conducting interviews, assessments, or standardized tests to understand your emotional and cognitive health.

This could include:

Screening for depression, anxiety, or apathy
Neuropsychological testing to assess thinking and memory
Goal setting and therapy planning tailored to your needs

In ongoing sessions, your treatment may focus on:

Therapy for depression or anxiety (often CBT)
Coping strategies for hallucinations or delusions
Behavioral techniques for improving motivation or managing impulse control disorders
Sleep and fatigue management
Support for grief, adjustment, or caregiver stress

Psychologists also coordinate with neurologists and psychiatrists to ensure care is well integrated.

What Are Some Questions Parkinson’s Patients or Caregivers Should Ask Their Psychologist?

How can you ensure you’re getting the right support at the right time? Here are some potentially good questions to ask:

Questions About Emotional and Mental Health

How can I tell if what I’m feeling is depression or just part of living with Parkinson’s?
Is anxiety common in Parkinson’s? How can it be managed?
What are some signs of apathy? How is it different from depression?
How can therapy help me deal with the stress or fear of the disease progressing?
What types of therapy (like CBT or mindfulness) have been shown to help people with PD?

Questions About Cognitive Changes

What kinds of thinking or memory problems should I watch out for?
How do you assess cognitive changes in people with Parkinson’s?
What can I do to maintain or improve my cognitive function?
Is it possible to tell the difference between Parkinson’s-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s?
How often should cognitive testing be repeated?

Questions About Treatment and Support

How will you work with my neurologist or psychiatrist to coordinate care?
What role do you play if I’m considering Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)?
Can you help with impulse control issues related to medication?
What are strategies for managing sleep problems or fatigue?
How do you support family caregivers? Can they be included in therapy?

Questions About Long-Term Planning

What should I expect emotionally or mentally as the disease progresses?
How can I prepare for changes in my ability to make decisions or general independence?
Can you help us talk about difficult topics, like long-term care or advance directives?

Are There Tests That I Should Expect My Psychologist to Give Me?

Yep. There are a number of possible tests you might receive from your psychologist (particularly if you’re working with a neuropsychologist) to help them evaluate your cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health.

Don’t worry – they’re not invasive. You may be asked to do things like answer questions, complete tasks, and maybe use paper-and-pencil or computerized tools.

Also, it’s important to note that the tests you are asked to take will be based on your psychologist’s individual assessment of you. Put another way, you’re probably not going to be taking all of the tests below; we just wanted to make sure you got a sense of the kinds of tests you might be asked to take.

Here are the main types of tests a PD patient can potentially expect:

Cognitive Assessments

These help detect mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) or Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) and monitor changes over time.

Memory tests (e.g., word recall, story recall)
Executive function tests (e.g., problem-solving, flexibility, inhibition tasks like the Stroop Test)
Attention and concentration tests (e.g., Digit Span or Trail Making Test)
Language function (e.g., naming objects, fluency tasks)
Visuospatial skills (e.g., figure copying, visual puzzles)

Typical tools:

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) – frequently used in PD
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) subtests
Neuropsychological battery tailored to Parkinson’s profiles

Mood and Mental Health Evaluations

These evaluations screen for depression, anxiety, apathy, and psychosis, all of which are common in those with PD.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) – for hallucinations or delusions

Behavioral and Impulse Control Tests

These may be used if a patient shows signs of impulsive behaviors or medication side effects, such as gambling, compulsive shopping, or binge eating.

Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (QUIP)
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)

Sleep and Fatigue Questionnaires

Since sleep problems are common in PD, psychologists may screen for REM sleep behavior disorder, insomnia, or daytime fatigue.

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Caregiver-Reported Tools

Sometimes, caregivers complete parallel questionnaires to provide insight into the patient’s behavior, memory, or mood at home.

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
PD-Cognitive Functional Rating Scale (PD-CFRS)

Why You Should Take These Tests Seriously

It can be tempting to phone it in if your psychologist is loading you down with assessments, but you really shouldn’t. They can be quite valuable in helping them:

Diagnose subtle cognitive or emotional changes
Plan treatment (e.g., therapy, medications, caregiver support)
Track changes over time for disease monitoring or treatment decisions
Support eligibility for interventions like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

The Bottom Line

Contrary to the conclusion that you might immediately jump to, psychologists are not ancillary to your Parkinson’s treatment – they’re essential. In fact, their expertise addresses the aspects of PD that most affect your quality of life and long-term outcomes.

By treating the mind as well as the body, the right psychologist can help you live more fully with Parkinson’s disease.

The information on this website is sourced from reputable references and real patient experiences. However, it is meant for educational purposes only. For medical decisions, please consult a healthcare professional.