Understanding the Perception of Pain in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Qualitative Study

Clin Rehabil. 2026 Oct 28:2692155261494455. doi: 10.1177/02692155261494455. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective To describe the experience of pain among people with Parkinson's disease, including its characteristics, psychological effects, and impact on daily life.

Design Qualitative descriptive study.SettingCommunity-based study using semi-structured individual interviews.

Participants Fifteen people with Parkinson's disease (11 women) diagnosed according to the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria and experiencing Parkinson's disease-related pain based on the Parkinson's Disease Pain Classification System.

Intervention Not applicable.

Main measures Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore participants' experiences of pain. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis based on a hybrid approach combining artificial intelligence-powered coding through ChatGPT-4 with manual triangulation.

Results Three main themes were identified: (1) experiences and perceptions of pain, including the nature and characterization of pain and its relationship with Parkinson's disease; (2) the impact of pain on daily life; and (3) feelings associated with pain, including emotional changes related to pain and its broader psychological impact.

Conclusions Pain in people with Parkinson's disease is an interconnected and context-dependent experience extending beyond its physical manifestations. The patient-centred narratives provide contextual insight into how pain interacts with motor and non-motor symptoms, daily functioning, emotional well-being, and participation, supporting individualized and comprehensive approaches to pain assessment and management.

PMID:42949542 | DOI:10.1177/02692155261494455