The investigators plan to examine the relation of perceptual variables-basic vision, unusual perceptual experiences(including but not limited to visual hallucinations)-to relevant functional variables such as cognition, mood, and alertness/sleepiness in an online sample of persons with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). It is hypothesized that unusual perceptual experiences will relate significantly to the selected variables. Participants do not need to experience visual hallucinations to be able to participate in this study. This is an observational study only, and not an interventional study.
For this study, the investigators propose to conduct an online study of PwPD (proposing a total of 60 participants) to examine the relations among variables that may relate to perception in PD. Those PwPD who express interest will be sent a link to an online survey (Qualtrics). The investigators will collect demographic and health information, followed by questionnaires assessing unusual perceptual experiences, mood, motivation, sleep, fatigue and quality of life. The survey should take roughly 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Compensation: A $20 Amazon gift card will be offered to those who complete the survey all the way through with good effort.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
54
Vision and Cognition Laboratory, Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Noise Pareidolia Test
Assesses tendency to see meaningful objects such as faces, animals, and objects in ambiguous patterns. Higher scores (on items with no face) indicate a higher number of pareidolic responses.
Time frame: Baseline
Mooney Faces
Assesses the ability to see an upright, inverted, or scrambled face in a black and white pattern. Higher scores (on items with no face) indicate a higher number of pareidolic responses.
Time frame: Baseline
BU Hallucinations and Unusual Perceptual Experiences questionnaire (BU-HUPE)
Assesses different types of visual hallucinations - simple VH; illusions; minor hallucinations: vivid sense of presence or movement in periphery (passage); and complex VH (e.g., people, animals, objects), as well as temporal and descriptive characteristics of the hallucinations. Higher scores indicate more unusual perceptual experiences.
Time frame: Baseline
Prodromal Questionnaire, Brief Version (PQ-B)
Assesses risk for psychosis by asking about positive symptoms and related distress/impairment. Higher scores indicate higher risk for psychosis and higher related distress.
Time frame: Baseline
Parkinson's Disease - Psychotic Symptoms Scale (PD-PSS)
Assesses the frequency and severity of minor hallucinations (passage hallucinations, presence hallucinations, visual illusions), and structured hallucinations in PD. Higher scores indicate higher frequency of psychotic symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Penn Online Evaluation of Migraine (POEM)
Assesses headaches and migraine-related history.
Time frame: Baseline
Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)
Assesses a person's general level of daytime sleepiness. Maximum Score: 24. Higher scores indicate a higher chance of dozing.
Time frame: Baseline
Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2
Assesses sleep and nocturnal disturbances in Parkinson's disease. Maximum score: 60. Higher scores indicate more frequent sleep disturbances.
Time frame: Baseline
Parkinson's Anxiety Scale (PAS)
Assesses the severity of anxiety symptoms in persons with Parkinson's disease. Maximum score:48. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Assesses depressive symptoms in the general population. Maximum score:60. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.
Time frame: Baseline
Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - 39 (PDQ-39)
Assesses Parkinson's disease-specific health-related quality of life. Higher scores indicate worse quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline
NIH NeuroQoL measures
Assesses health-related quality of life in adults with neurological disorders. Higher scores on the sub-scales indicate worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline
The Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)
Assesses motor and non-motor experiences of daily living in Parkinson's disease. Higher scores indicate increased severity of motor and non-motor symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ)
Assesses a range of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Higher scores indicate the presence of more non-motor symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
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