Quality management and specifications of multidisciplinary Parkinson’s disease management: an expert opinion

Holtbernd F, Classen J, Kohl Z, Pötter-Nerger M, Redecker C, Regensburger M, Wächter T (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Journal of Neural Transmission Springer Nature

DOI: 10.1007/s00702-026-03260-7

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease multidisciplinary complex therapy (PD-MCT) has emerged as an effective, standardized inpatient treatment approach in Germany that combines individualized pharmacological optimization with intensive, coordinated non-pharmacological interventions. This multimodal regimen has consistently been associated with improvements in both motor and non-motor symptoms, as well as patient-reported outcomes. Although its clinical benefits are increasingly recognized and a first randomized controlled trial is currently underway, a comprehensive appraisal of the structural framework underpinning PD-MCT delivery remains lacking. In this expert opinion, we aim to systematically summarize the current formal structural requirements defined by the German public reimbursement system as well as guidelines by relevant professional and societal networks. We outline key elements such as indication for treatment, coding criteria, minimum therapy intensities, and interdisciplinary team composition. Furthermore, we critically examine how these regulatory and organizational specifications translate into real-world care, including potential discrepancies between formal criteria and clinical practice. We assess the utility and role of PD-MCT within existing multidisciplinary and alternative treatment approaches in Germany and international settings. Finally, we discuss future directions to refine PD-MCT from a regulatory and health policy perspective, with the goal of enhancing accessibility, at-home preservation of treatment effects, and patient-centered outcomes.

Authors with CRIS profile

Martin Regensburger Department of Molecular Neurology

Involved external institutions

Universität Regensburg DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) DE Germany (DE) Universität Bielefeld DE Germany (DE) Reha-Zentren Passauer Wolf GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA) DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Leipzig DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Holtbernd, F., Classen, J., Kohl, Z., Pötter-Nerger, M., Redecker, C., Regensburger, M., & Wächter, T. (2026). Quality management and specifications of multidisciplinary Parkinson’s disease management: an expert opinion. Journal of Neural Transmission. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-026-03260-7

MLA:

Holtbernd, F., et al. "Quality management and specifications of multidisciplinary Parkinson’s disease management: an expert opinion." Journal of Neural Transmission (2026).

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