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Objective: To prospectively evaluate the impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation on social adjustment in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Before and 18 to 24 months after bilateral STN stimulation, the authors assessed 29 patients with PD for motor disability, cognition (Mattis dementia rating scale, frontal score), psychiatric morbidity (Mini-5.0.0, MADRS, BAS), quality of life (PDQ-39), social adjustment (Social Adjustment Scale), and psychological status using unstructured in-depth interviews.

Results: Despite marked improvement in parkinsonian motor disability, the absence of significant changes in cognitive status, and improvement of activities of daily living and quality of life by the end of the study, social adjustment did not improve. Several kinds of problems with social adjustment were observed, affecting the patients’ perception of themselves and their body, marital situation, and …