title: Perceptions of cause and control of impulse control behaviours in people with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Impulse control behaviours (ICBs) have been a recent focus of research in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the current literature is largely limited to a biomedical understanding and gaps remain in our understanding of the perceived cause of these behaviours and how people themselves experience them. Consequently, this study sought to investigate how people with PD perceive the cause and controllability of their ICB.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilized qualitative methodology involving semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) allowed an in-depth exploration of the subjective experience of ICBs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten people with idiopathic PD and current or recent history of ICBs were recruited from an existing research participant pool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The themes that arose from the participants' accounts were 'Conflicting views on causality', 'Impulse control behaviours as a coping strategy', and 'The relationship between causal attribution and perceived controllability'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants' beliefs about the cause of ICBs varied from externalized cause (medication) to internalized (coping with the impact of PD). These causal attributions were fundamental to the perceived controllability of the behaviours and psychological benefits. Further research is warranted to explore a psychosocial viewpoint of this feature of PD and to provide appropriate and effective biopsychosocial interventions.
authors: Clinical Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. mdelaney@nhs.net
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Delaney
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Simpson
authors: Iracema
authors: I
authors: Leroi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom