Depression in multiple system atrophy: a case report

A 53-year-old woman who developed depression as the first symptom of multiple system atrophy was treated. Depression was followed successively by autonomic failure, parkinsonism and cerebellar ataxia. Treatment with L-DOPA, L-threo-DOPS, and thyroid releasing hormone was associated with improvement of autonomic failure and parkinsonism. As for depression, scores on the Zung scale and the Hamilton scale improved from 58 to 49 and from 30 to 22, respectively, This case is remarkable in that depression preceded neurologic dysfunction and was managed successfully by antiparkinsonian medication. A common underlying disturbance may be responsible for the depression and neurologic dysfunction in multiple system atrophy.