Combined beneficial effect of rasagiline on motor function and depression in de novo PD

To investigate prokinetic and antidepressive effects of rasagiline in de novo Parkinson disease (PD).

Patients with newly diagnosed PD with comorbid untreated depression were randomly assigned to rasagiline monotherapy 1 or 2 mg/d. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 2 (Activity of Daily Living) and Part 3 (Motor Function), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) assessments were carried out by a blinded investigator in each patient at baseline and after 8 weeks of rasagiline treatment.

Both groups showed equal motor improvement at the end point. The improvements of HDRS score and activity of daily living were significantly more pronounced with rasagiline, 2 mg/d, than rasagiline, 1 mg/d (P = 0.0002). The treatment with rasagiline, 2 mg/d, improved symptoms in all HDRS core depression symptoms and specifically those not considered to be influenced by motor function: mood, guilt, psychic anxiety, and hypochondria.

Our results suggest that antidepressive effect seen in higher dosage of rasagiline may be not related to the motor improvement.