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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: September 22, 2023
Association Between Somatization and Nonmotor Symptoms Severity in People With Parkinson Disease
Aranza Polo-Morales1,2, Ángel Alcocer-Salas2, Mayela Rodríguez-Violante2,3
1Mexican Faculty of Medicine, 27840La Salle University, Mexico City, Mexico.
Objective:
To assess the frequency of somatization and its association with motor, nonmotor symptoms, and quality of life in persons with Parkinson disease (PD).
Methods:
A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out. Assessments included the List of 90 Symptoms somatic factor (SCL-90-R SOM), Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Ratings Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Parkinson Questionnaire-8 (PDQ-8).
Results:
A total 93 persons with PD and 93 controls were included. Somatization within the PD group was 2 times more frequent compared to the control group (43% vs 21.5%, P = .003). Persons with PD had higher NMSS total scores (48.6 ± 42.6 vs 28.3 ± 30.4, P = .001). Patients with PD with somatization had worst MDS-UPDRS, NMSS, MoCA, and PDQ-8 (all P < .05).
Conclusion:
Somatization is more frequent in persons with PD compared to healthy controls. Somatization in PD is associated with nonmotor symptoms and worst quality of life.
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