Psyche of Parkinson’s Disease A Yoga Perspective

Sridhar Maddela and Stephen Buetow

This study took a yoga perspective to investigate any particular thought patterns associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The study found correlation between thinking about death and severity of PD.

Introduction

Aetiology of PD - Biomedical Perspective

Cause of PD from a Yoga Perspective

Yoga is defined as an approach to reduce perceptive thinking (Swami Satyananda Saraswathi, 2002). Perceptive thinking is reduced by reconditioning individuals behaviour (intrapersonal, personal and interpersonal associations of life).

Yoga

Individuals have different perceptions and beliefs about the environment they live in (Gluckman & Hanson, 2004).

Perceptions and beliefs generate thought patterns and behaviour (Bruce Lipton, 2005).

Yoga philosophy recognises perceptive thinking is due to kleshas (Mental afflictions)

Perception, Beliefs and Behaviour

Mental afflictions: 1. Ignorance 2. Ego, individuality or separation3. Attachment or passion 4. Aversion or hatred5. Fear of death

Mental afflictions are detrimental to individuals health (Belleau & Johnson, 2007; Palsane & Lam, 1996)

Mental Afflictions

Yoga Aphorisms & Cortical Gyri

A cross-sectional postal survey was administered to a random sample of members of Parkinson’s New Zealand (PNZ). The consented participants had to complete a questionnaire rating the frequency of thinking about selected aspects of life.Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was utilised for data analysis.

Methodology

Of 990 members of PNZ who were invited to participate in the study 35.4% (n = 357) returned usable questionnaires.

Results

Participants Data

The Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was used to group the variables PCA grouped the variables into three (3) groups Intrapersonal aspects of life Personal aspects of life Interpersonal aspects of life

Frequency of thinking about specified aspects of life

Reported % on Aspects of Life

Bivariate correlation showed a weak but positive and statistically significant association (r = 0.2, p < 000) between PD severity and thinking about death.

Correlation between thought patterns and PD severity

The study found more the participants thought about death more sever the PD.

Conclusion

This study was a small cross sectional survey as I was working towards a 60 point dissertation.

Lack of control group to compare There is a need for a qualitative approach to

test the findings of this study.

Limitations

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge:• The director of Goodfellow Unit Dr Peter

Huggard• My supervisor Prof Stephen Buetow• All the Organisers of the Symposium • All of you for attending this session • My wife Pooja and my daughter Srija for their

endless support

YOGAAn approach worth considering