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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05483036

Perception in Parkinson's Disease

The investigators plan to examine the relation of perceptual variables-basic vision, unusual perceptual experiences(including but not limited to visual hallucinations)-to relevant functional variables such as cognition, mood, and alertness/sleepiness in an online sample of persons with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). It is hypothesized that unusual perceptual experiences will relate significantly to the selected variables. Participants do not need to experience visual hallucinations to be able to participate in this study. This is an observational study only, and not an interventional study.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Hallucinations Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurodegenerative Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perception Perceptual Disorders Signs and Symptoms Synucleinopathies Visual Hallucination

Age range

40 year–110 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Vision and Cognition Laboratory, Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

About this study

For this study, the investigators propose to conduct an online study of PwPD (proposing a total of 60 participants) to examine the relations among variables that may relate to perception in PD. Those PwPD who express interest will be sent a link to an online survey (Qualtrics). The investigators will collect demographic and health information, followed by questionnaires assessing unusual perceptual experiences, mood, motivation, sleep, fatigue and quality of life. The survey should take roughly 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

Compensation: A $20 Amazon gift card will be offered to those who complete the survey all the way through with good effort.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants must be at least 40 years old
  • Have a self-reported diagnosis of idiopathic PD
  • Be proficient English speakers
  • Have functional vision
  • Have internet access, and access to a desktop computer or laptop

Exclusion criteria

  • Self-reported poor vision (non-functional range)
  • Lack of access to internet and either a desktop computer or laptop

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Noise Pareidolia Test

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses tendency to see meaningful objects such as faces, animals, and objects in ambiguous patterns. Higher scores (on items with no face) indicate a higher number of pareidolic responses.

  2. Mooney Faces

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses the ability to see an upright, inverted, or scrambled face in a black and white pattern. Higher scores (on items with no face) indicate a higher number of pareidolic responses.

  3. BU Hallucinations and Unusual Perceptual Experiences questionnaire (BU-HUPE)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses different types of visual hallucinations - simple VH; illusions; minor hallucinations: vivid sense of presence or movement in periphery (passage); and complex VH (e.g., people, animals, objects), as well as temporal and descriptive characteristics of the hallucinations. Higher scores indicate more unusual perceptual experiences.

  4. Prodromal Questionnaire, Brief Version (PQ-B)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses risk for psychosis by asking about positive symptoms and related distress/impairment. Higher scores indicate higher risk for psychosis and higher related distress.

  5. Parkinson's Disease - Psychotic Symptoms Scale (PD-PSS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses the frequency and severity of minor hallucinations (passage hallucinations, presence hallucinations, visual illusions), and structured hallucinations in PD. Higher scores indicate higher frequency of psychotic symptoms.

  6. Penn Online Evaluation of Migraine (POEM)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses headaches and migraine-related history.

  7. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses a person's general level of daytime sleepiness. Maximum Score: 24. Higher scores indicate a higher chance of dozing.

  8. Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale-2

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses sleep and nocturnal disturbances in Parkinson's disease. Maximum score: 60. Higher scores indicate more frequent sleep disturbances.

  9. Parkinson's Anxiety Scale (PAS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses the severity of anxiety symptoms in persons with Parkinson's disease. Maximum score:48. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety.

  10. Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses depressive symptoms in the general population. Maximum score:60. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.

  11. Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - 39 (PDQ-39)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses Parkinson's disease-specific health-related quality of life. Higher scores indicate worse quality of life.

  12. NIH NeuroQoL measures

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses health-related quality of life in adults with neurological disorders. Higher scores on the sub-scales indicate worse outcomes.

  13. The Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses motor and non-motor experiences of daily living in Parkinson's disease. Higher scores indicate increased severity of motor and non-motor symptoms.

  14. Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Assesses a range of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Higher scores indicate the presence of more non-motor symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston University Charles River Campus

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 1, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 19, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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