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Personality and depression in Parkinson's disease
J P Hubble1, R Venkatesh, R E Hassanein
1Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7314.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients often exhibit introverted traits before motor symptoms appear. These personality changes become more pronounced after disease onset and are linked to depression and PD severity.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is often associated with distinct personality traits, particularly introversion.
- These premorbid personality features are hypothesized to be early indicators of latent PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare premorbid and current personality characteristics in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) versus control subjects.
- To determine if personality changes in PD patients correlate with disease severity, depression, or other factors.
Main Methods:
- A personality inventory (PI) was administered to spouses of 35 PD subjects and 35 controls.
- The PI assessed both remote (premorbid) and current personality status.
Main Results:
- Premorbid PD subjects were characterized by spouses as more introverted (quiet, cautious, even-tempered) and less flexible than controls.
- Significant personality changes were observed in PD subjects from premorbid to current status (13 of 24 PI items).
- Both premorbid and current personality traits correlated with depression symptoms and PD disease severity, but not with cognition, substance use, or residency.
Conclusions:
- Individuals who develop PD may exhibit introverted personality traits prior to motor symptom onset.
- More significant personality alterations are recognized after PD onset, closely associated with depressive affect and motor impairment.