Problematic Smartphone Use in Parkinson’s Disease: Associations with Mood, Non-Motor Burden, and Impulsivity

Abstract

Objective: To investigate problematic smartphone use and its associations with mood symptoms, impulsivity, and non-motor symptom burden in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: Forty-five patients with PD younger than 60 years and 43 matched healthy controls completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Patients with PD additionally completed the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale. Clinical characteristics and MDS-UPDRS scores were assessed. Results: SAS scores were lower in PD than in controls. In PD, smartphone use was associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, non-motor symptom burden, and impulsivity, although none remained independently associated in multivariable analysis. Positive Anticipation showed the strongest association with impulsivity. In controls, depressive symptoms were associated only with the Overuse and Cyberspace-Oriented Relationships subscales. Conclusion: Problematic smartphone use in PD appears to involve multiple behavioral dimensions, with overall use related to mood symptoms and reward-related use more closely linked to impulsivity.