Risk willingness in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease understanding patient preferences.

Disease-modifying therapeutics in the α-synucleinopathies multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are in early phases of clinical testing. Involving patients' preferences including therapy-associated risk willingness in initial stages of therapy development has been increasingly pursued in regulatory approval processes. In our study with 49 MSA and 38 PD patients, therapy-associated risk willingness was quantified using validated standard gamble scenarios for varying severities of potential drug or surgical side effects.

Using Wearables to Study Biopsychosocial Dynamics in Couples Who Cope With a Chronic Health Condition: Ambulatory Assessment Study.

Background: Technology has become an integral part of our everyday life, and its use to manage and study health is no exception. Romantic partners play a critical role in managing chronic health conditions as they tend to be a primary source of support.

Objective: This study tests the feasibility of using commercial wearables to monitor couples' unique way of communicating and supporting each other and documents the physiological correlates of interpersonal dynamics (ie, heart rate linkage).