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Depression in Parkinson's disease -- a review
1Lieberman Parkinson Clinic, North Bay Village, FL 33141, USA. al@liebermanparkinsonclinic.com
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|December 22, 2005
Summary
Depression is a significant component of Parkinson's disease (PD), not just a psychological response. Dopaminergic pathway dysfunction in the brain likely contributes to this common comorbidity in PD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Major depression affects 20-40% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, significantly exceeding general population rates.
- Depression can manifest before or after a PD diagnosis, indicating a potential biological link.
- Observations suggest depression in PD may stem from neurobiological changes rather than solely psychological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that depression is an integral part of Parkinson's disease (PD).
- To explore the potential neurobiological underpinnings of depression in PD, focusing on dopaminergic pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on depression in Parkinson's disease.
- Analysis of findings from deep brain stimulation studies in PD patients.
- Consideration of the effects of dopaminergic agents on mood.
Main Results:
- Depression is a frequent comorbidity in Parkinson's disease (PD), with prevalence rates several times higher than in the general population.
- Evidence suggests depression can be a prodromal symptom of PD.
- Improvements in depression have been noted with dopaminergic therapies, and depression has been observed during stimulation of brain regions near the substantia nigra.
Conclusions:
- Depression is likely an intrinsic aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD), not merely a psychological reaction.
- Dysfunction in the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic pathways is postulated to contribute to the affective and cognitive symptoms of depression in PD.
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