Epidemiology of major depression in Belgian parkinsonian patients

Epidemiological data concerning the prevalence of major depression in PD patients in Belgium is very scarce.

A total of 1086 patients with idiopathic Parkinsons disease were included in the analysis. The neurological evaluation of the patients was made by the Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinsons disease, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living. The psychiatric evaluation was based on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Based on the MINI questionnaire, the overall proportion of PD patients presenting a current major depressive episode was 15.6%. Interestingly, 30% of all patients included had a history of mood disorder and 46% received either an anxiolytic, an antidepressant or an atypical neuroleptic or a combination of them. The characterisation of the profile of depressed parkinsonian patients shows very few patient's parameters (demographics or motor symptoms) to be associated with a higher risk for major depression.

The PARKIDEP survey confirms a high prevalence of major depression in PD patients in Belgium. A careful follow up of PD patients with a poor functionality, a history of mood disorder or with a complaint of depression or anxiety during the "off" state would help towards a better treatment of the Parkinson's disease associated depression and should improve the quality of life of PD patients.