The effects of reduced expression in Parkinson's disease on impression formation by health professionals

Abstract

The first impressions formed by 91 therapists shown silent videorecordings of four patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and four with ischaemic heart disease were assessed using visual analogue scales directed at aspects of mood, personality and intellect. Although both patient groups showed no abnormalities in terms of affect, personality and intelligence by standardised psychological tests, the Parkinsonian patients appeared more anxious, hostile, suspicious, unhappy, bored and tense than the cardiac cases; they came across as less intelligent, more introverted and passive, less stable and tough minded; they seemed to enjoy and maintain their part in the conversation less well and relate less to the interviewer and overall they were rated as less likeable. These findings are related to the known effects of speech impairment on impression formation in Parkinson's disease and are discussed in terms of the possible effects on therapeutic relationships and their bearing on diagnosis of psychiatric disturbance in the condition.