Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Depression and Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors P arkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenera- tive disease that affects both motor and non-motor functions.While motor impairments, such as bradykinesia, rigidity, hypokinetic dysarthria, and tremor, define the disease, non-motor symptoms, including psychiatric problems, pain, and sleep disturbances, significantly contribute to disease burden and diminish patients' quality of life.[1,2] Among these non-motor symptoms, depression and anxiety are particularly prevalent, with estimates suggesting that up to 50% of PD patients experience one or both conditions during the course of their illness.[3,4] Depression and anxiety are strongly linked to impaired work and social functioning, an increased need for care, and a substantial decline in health-related life quality.[5][6][7][8] Furthermore, Objectives: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with both motor and non-motor symptoms, including depression and anxiety, which significantly impact patients' quality of life.The predictors of these psychiatric symptoms remain incompletely understood.This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and potential predictors of depression and anxiety in PD.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 99 idiopathic PD patients.Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale.A range of clinical and demographic variables, including motor symptoms, sleep disturbances, and quality of life, were analyzed using regression models.Results: Of the patients, 57.5% had depression, 48.4% had anxiety, and 36.3% had both.Significant predictors of depression included the use of apomorphine, which was associated with lower PHQ-9 scores (p=0.031), and the presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS), which was linked to higher depression scores (p=0.037).For anxiety, younger age was a significant predictor (p=0.007).Both depression and anxiety scores correlated with lower quality of life (p<0.001for both).Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of depression and anxiety in PD, with significant predictors including RLS for depression and younger age for anxiety.Apomorphine use appears protective against depression.Both depression and anxiety disrupt quality of life.These findings underscore the importance of routine psychiatric screening and comprehensive management of depression and anxiety in PD, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
Author: Ceren Alis
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411931091