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Measuring symptom change in patients with Parkinson's disease
J E Harrison1, S Preston, S B Blunt
1CeNeS Ltd, Histon, Cambridge, UK. john.harrison@cenes.co.uk
Age and Ageing
|February 26, 2000
Summary
The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) effectively tracks functional changes in Parkinson's patients over time. This validated tool demonstrates strong concurrent validity with other established health and motor function measures.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Health Outcomes Research
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) is recognized for its sensitivity to functional changes.
- Existing health and disability measures may not fully capture the nuances of Parkinson's disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the longitudinal responsiveness of the PDQ-39 in Parkinson's disease patients.
- To assess the concurrent validity of PDQ-39 subscales against established clinical instruments.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 67 Parkinson's disease patients was followed for 18 months.
- Data collection included the PDQ-39, GHQ-28, and the Office of Population and Census Surveys disability instrument.
- Concurrent validity was examined with depression, anxiety, and motor function scales.
Main Results:
- The PDQ-39 detected significant functional changes, while the GHQ-28 and disability instrument did not.
- PDQ-39 subscales demonstrated high concurrent validity with mood (Beck depression and anxiety inventories) and motor function (Royal Postgraduate Medical School severity scale) measures.
- Concurrent validity with the Barthel index was notably lower.
Conclusions:
- The PDQ-39 is a sensitive and reliable instrument for monitoring functional status in Parkinson's disease.
- The PDQ-39 exhibits strong concurrent validity, supporting its use alongside established measures of mood and motor function.