Depression in patients with Parkinson's disease: Impact on functioning

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences 2008-09, Vol.272 (1), p.158-163
• Main Authors: Stella, Florindo, Banzato, Claudio E.M, Barasnevicius Quagliato, Elizabeth M.A, Viana, Maura Aparecida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical condition; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Depression; Depression - etiology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Parkinson Disease - complications; Parkinson's disease; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2008.05.018

Abstract Depression is a frequently observed neuropsychiatric phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it has been lately considered as a manifestation of such disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between depression and clinical aspects of PD and to assess the impact of the co-occurrence of such condition on the burden imposed by PD. Fifty outpatients diagnosed with idiopathic PD according to the London Brain Bank criteria were examined. PD was evaluated using Hoehn & Yahr staging (H&Y), United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Schwab & England (S&E) functional capacity evaluation. A semi-structured clinical interview was used. The diagnosis of PD was made by neurologist experts on movement disorders, and the diagnosis of depression was made by a psychiatrist, according to the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Depressive symptoms were additionally measured using the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Scale. The analysis of quantitative data was performed using descriptive statistics, univariate linear regression, T -Student Test and ANOVA. Seventeen (34%) patients were diagnosed as clinically depressed and, when compared to the non-depressed ones, presented the following results: H&Y: 3.2 vs. 2.8; UPDRS total: 75.7 vs. 65.3; S&E: 53.5% vs. 65.8% and PD duration: 114.4 months vs. 125.8 months. Depressed patients showed more advanced staging (H&Y), a more severe global clinical condition (UPDRS) and also a greater decrease in their functional capacity (S&E). These data reinforce the hypothesis that depression is associated to poorer functioning in patients with PD.