For the majority of those who had DBS-STN surgery, their quality of life has improved dramatically. We are pleased to present a series of reports designed from the patients' point of view. The reports are presented in most current first.
The Parkinson Alliance Quality of Life Scale (PAQLS). (April 2006) Understanding quality of life for patients with PD, from the perspective of the patient, is of great importance. The Parkinson Alliance Quality of Life Scale (PAQLS) was designed to create a unique and comprehensive self-report measure of QoL for individuals with PD who have and have not undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). The results of this survey provided intriguing perspectives from our participants about motor and non-motor symptoms related to PD, psychosocial factors associated with QoL, and satisfaction with DBS therapy.
Comparing Quality of Life and Depression in Parkinson's Disease Patients with and without Deep Brain Stimulation (2005)
Focus 2 Survey and Focus 2 Report. (November 2004)
This survey was designed to examine quality of life and depression and how certain patient and clinical variables relate to aspects of quality of life and depressive symptoms.
Focus 1 Survey and Focus 1 Report. (January 2004) A number of large gaps were uncovered in the patients’ knowledge and understanding of many issues they and their families were struggling with—even as they were recuperating from the surgery. The Focus 1 survey was sent to the respondents of the initial survey. It was an outgrowth of some of the questions that were raised and collected in the "The First Report." This survey compared the severity of many PD symptoms before and after surgery, as reported by forty-nine patients.
The First Report. In 2002, the first DBS-STN survey was distributed to a group of PD patients who had DBS-STN surgery. This survey was designed to collect, analyze, and compare the individual circumstances leading up to, through, and after surgery. We found that the survey helped answer many questions and raised some others. The evaluation of the collective responses is the foundation for The First Report.
The information presented in our past and upcoming surveys is designed from the patients' point of view. It has no constraint or standard statistically validated double-blind random protocols. It offers the patients' unadulterated view as a novel and valuable source of data that will benefit patients and individuals looking for more information on DBS-STN. This information will also prove valuable to the scientific and medical community.
If you'd rather a copy of any report be mailed to you, please contact us (and provide your name, address, and which report or reports you are interested in) or call us toll free at 1-800-579-8440.
Adobe Acrobat is a free program that allows you to read the surveys. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, you can download it here. 
