[Patients' Perspective on Parkinson Disease Therapies: Comparative Results of Large-scale Surveys in 2008 and 2013 in Japan].

A large-scale patient survey was conducted in 2013 and results compared with those of a similar scale survey conducted in 2008 to clarify the current status of drug therapy and patients' understanding of Parkinson disease (PD) and therapy. A total of 4,278 and 101 patients respectively participated in primary mail survey and secondary interview surveys. Measures of PD severity, activity level, and level of assistance required in daily life were improved compared with those in the 2008 survey. Average daily dose of levodopa was increased across all disease durations. The treatment compliance rate of monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors was increased in patients with < 6 years of disease duration, but was reduced in patients with ≥ 6 years. The treatment compliance rates of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors and zonisamide were increased. Patients with experience of dyskinesia hoped more to improve their mobility rather than avoid dyskinesia. Since there is no fundamental treatment for PD and drug therapy achieves only symptomatic relief, PD exerted a negative influence on patients' satisfaction. The patients' unsatisfied feelings changed with the severity of OFF time. Physicians are required to not only devise a selection and dosage of PD therapeutic drugs but also empathetically respond to patients, with consideration of their feelings. (Received January 22, 2016; Accepted April 11, 2016; Published September 1, 2016).