The effect of depression on motor function and disease severity of Parkinsonʹs disease

Objectives Approximately 40% of patients with Parkinsonʹs disease (PD) experience symptoms of depression. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of depression on disease severity, motor function and other phenotypic characteristics of PD. Patients and methods We studied 32 PD patients with major depression (PD-D) according to the DSM-IV criteria and 32 PD patients with no depression (PD-C) matched for gender, age of onset and duration. Results Major depression in PD patients was associated with increased disease severity, poorer motor function and worse performance in the activities of daily living as measured by UPDRS scores. Furthermore, there was an association of depression with the severity of bradykinesia and axial rigidity. Conclusions Depression in PD can have a profound negative impact on a patientʹs sense of wellbeing and motor functioning. Therefore, PD patients should be routinely and carefully screened for the presence of depression and appropriate management should be considered. Larger studies on the subject are warranted.