Stigma in Parkinson's disease: Placing it outside the body

Abstract

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is commonly recognized for its motor symptoms, yet the disease burden also includes non-motor symptoms and psycho-social issues, notably stigma. This stigma, defined as the discrediting of an individual based on their condition, affects both PD patients and caregivers, often leading patients to conceal their diagnosis or avoid social interactions. While clinical symptoms like motor severity and emotional disorders are linked to stigma, focusing solely on these aspects overlooks the socio-cultural factors influencing stigma. The socio-cultural dimension, which includes factors like gender, age, and social discrimination, plays a significant role in shaping stigma. Researchers and clinicians must adopt a more comprehensive approach that integrates these social aspects, as current approaches tend to emphasize biomedical variables. By focusing on socio-cultural factors such as socioeconomic status, access to care, and prior trauma, stigma can be better understood and addressed, removing the burden from patients’ bodies.