Coping with Cognitive Impairment in People with Parkinson’s Disease and Their Carers: A Qualitative Study

Table 2

Coding frame.

Main themes	Subthemes	Descriptors
Cognitive impairment stressors	Cognitive impairment as a threat to perceived identity and role	Loss of sense of self
		Parent/child relationship
		Diminished
		Becoming a carer
		Loss of partner
	Predeath grief: feelings of loss in carers	Not the same person
		Taken from me
		Loss of mutuality and marriage
Coping and adjustment	Success and challenges to coping in people with Parkinson’s disease	Successful adjustment
		Acceptance: I just cope
		Maintaining independence
		Uncertain future
		Perceived helplessness
		Avoidance
		Catastrophizing
	Between helplessness and survival in carers coping with cognitive impairment	Sacrificing own needs
		Isolation
		Struggling with cognitive symptoms
		Finding meaning