Apathy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study of Its Prevalence and Relationship With Mood, Anxiety, and Cognitive Function

Apathy is thought to be an important clinical feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, its prevalence ranges greatly across studies because of differing definitions, assessment tools, and patient inclusion criteria. Furthermore, it remains unclear how the presentation of apathy in PD is related to mood disorder and/or cognitive impairment. This study sought to examine the prevalence of a pure apathy syndrome in PD, distinct from both depression and anxiety, and reveal its associated cognitive profile. A retrospective study was performed on 177 PD patients who had completed measures of apathy [Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)] and mood functioning [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)] and had undergone extensive neuropsychological assessment, using measures of intellectual functioning, memory, executive function, attention, language, visual processing, and cognitive speed; 14.7% of the sample indicated clinically significant levels of apathy, but this nearly always co-presented with depression and/or anxiety, with cases of “pure” apathy very rare (2.8%). On extensive cognitive assessment, patients with mood disorder performed worse on a measure of non-verbal intellectual functioning, but patients with additional apathy or apathy only demonstrated no further losses. The syndrome of apathy in PD greatly overlaps with that of depression and anxiety, suggesting that apathy in PD may be in large an epiphenomenon of mood disorder, with no specific neuropsychological features.

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The relationship between specific cognitive defects and burden of care in Parkinson's disease

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215001593 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 275-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Michael Zhong ◽

Richard Peppard ◽

Dennis Velakoulis ◽

Andrew H. Evans

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Motor Symptom ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Psychosocial Effects

ABSTRACTBackground:In spite of the recognized physical and psychosocial effects of caring for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), caregiver burden (CB) in this setting is poorly understood. The objective of this research was to identify factors that were associated with CB in an Australian population of PD caregivers using a novel instrument – the Parkinson's Disease Caregiver Burden (PDCB) questionnaire.Methods:Fifty patient–caregiver couples were recruited from three movement disorders clinics in Melbourne, Australia. Burden on caregivers was rated using the PDCB questionnaire. Burden scores were correlated with patient factors, including motor symptom severity (Unified Parkinson's Disease Ratings Scale and Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) scale), patient cognition (Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment Tool; NUCOG), presence of impulsive and compulsive behaviors (Questionnaire for Impulsive–Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's disease), and patient olfaction. Caregiver and patient demographics, as well as results for depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS), were also examined for their relationship with CB.Results:H&Y stage, depression or anxiety in either caregiver or patient, and decreased patient NUCOG score were significantly associated with higher PDCB score. Multiple linear regression analysis identified caregiver and patient depression score and patient score for the visuoconstructional subscale of NUCOG to predict burden score. In addition, disease duration, duration of caregiving, and increased hours per day spent in giving care were significantly associated with increased burden.Conclusions:We found psychiatric and cognitive factors to be the most relevant factors in the perception of burden in PD caregivers. On top of this, we found deficits in the domain of visuoconstruction predicted burden – a relationship not yet described in literature. Targeting depression and anxiety in this setting as well as identifying caregivers at high risk of burden may give clinicians the chance to optimize care of patients with PD through the caregiver.

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The Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Using Rasch Measurement Theory in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association ◽

10.17340/jkna.2021.4.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 312-321

Author(s):

Jin-Hyuk Choi ◽

Seongjin Jeon ◽

Seulgi Hong ◽

Ahro Kim ◽

Ji-Yun Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Measurement Theory ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Rasch Measurement ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Hospital Anxiety ◽

Korean Version

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent and can cause suffering in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Korean version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (K-HADS) has been widely used to assess depression and anxiety symptoms in Korean patient with PD. The present study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the K-HADS using Rasch measurement analysis.Methods: A total of 106 PD patients (54 males, 52 females) who met the diagnostic criteria of the United Kingdom Brain Bank were recruited. Unidimensionality, the Rasch model fit, response category functioning, patient-item distribution, and the separation reliability of the K-HADS depression (K-HADS-D) and anxiety (K-HADS-A) subscales were statistically evaluated.Results: The mean K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A scores were 8.08±4.69 (mean±standard deviation) and 5.44±4.18, respectively. Cronbach’s α coefficients of the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A were 0.82 and 0.83. The Rasch analysis revealed that the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A showed unidimensionality and no disordered functioning was observed in the 4-point polytomous scale. However, both K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A exhibited suboptimal separation reliability, while the K-HADS-A showed inadequate scale targeting with floor effect.Conclusions: The present study comprises the first validation of the K-HADS using the Rasch measurement model, suggesting that the K-HADS-D and K-HADS-A are clinimetrically acceptable and reliable scales for use in Korean patients with PD. However, the moderate person separation indices implicate the relatively low discriminatory ability of the K-HADS in our study patients.

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The use of vortioxetine for depression in patients with Parkinson's disease in the early and advanced stages of the disease

Neurology neuropsychiatry Psychosomatics ◽

10.14412/2074-2711-2020-5-40-45 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 40-45

Author(s):

I. V. Miliukhina

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Rapid Onset ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Good Tolerability ◽

Advanced Stages ◽

Updrs Part

Depression is one of the most common non-motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD), which largely determines both the severity of the course of the disease and the life expectancy of patients, as well as the compliance of patients to and the efficiency of antiparkinsonian therapy. In this connection, the search for a safe and effective antidepressant for patients with PD is of particular relevance.Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vortioxetine in patients with PD complicated by mild to moderate depression.Patients and methods. Examinations were made in 150 patients with PD in its early and advanced stages (Hoehn-Yahr stages: 1.0 to 3.0). All the patients were treated with vortioxetine at a dose of 15 or 20 mg/day for 8 months. The investigators used clinical and psychopathological rating scales, such as the Hospital Depression Scale (HADS-D), the Hospital Anxiety Scale (HADS-A), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The severity of PD motor manifestations was assessed according to the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III.Results and discussion. During the follow-up period corresponding to 12 weeks of vortioxetine use, all the patients showed a significant decrease in MARDS, HADS-A and HADS-D, and BDI scores for depression and anxiety (p < 0.001). Vortioxetine demonstrated an optimal balance between tolerability and clinical efficacy in correcting affective disorders in this patient group. In addition, analysis of the dynamics of motor disorders yielded data on the improvement of movement functions while correcting depression as lower UPDRS Part III total scores (p < 0.001).Conclusion. The findings suggest that vortioxetine has a significant effect on depression and anxiety in patients with PD in its early and advanced stages, good tolerability, and a rapid-onset effect.

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Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Dimensions of Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease Enrolled in an Association of Patients

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11060771 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 771

Author(s):

Fany Chuquilín-Arista ◽

Tania Álvarez-Avellón ◽

Manuel Menéndez-González

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms. Depression and anxiety are common manifestations in PD and may be determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study is to determine the association of depression and anxiety with the dimensions of HRQoL in subjects with PD enrolled in an association of patients. Ninety-five community-based patients with PD diagnosis at different disease stages were studied. HRQoL was assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39); depression and anxiety were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. Our results showed that depression and anxiety were negatively associated with HRQoL measured by PDSI. Higher motor dysfunction measured by Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging was also associated with worse HRQoL. Depression was the most influential variable in the model. All PDQ-39 dimensions except social support and bodily discomfort were associated with depression. Anxiety was associated with the emotional well-being and bodily discomfort dimensions. These results suggest that physicians should pay attention to the presence of psychiatric symptoms and treat them appropriately.

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Is Depression or Apathy Playing a Key Role in Predicting Financial Capacity in Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia?

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11060785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 785

Author(s):

Vaitsa Giannouli ◽

Magda Tsolaki

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Short Form ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Decisive Role ◽

Financial Capacity ◽

Capacity Performance

(1) Background: Depression and apathy both affect cognitive abilities, such as thinking, concentration and making decisions in young and old individuals. Although apathy is claimed to be a “core” feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), it may occur in the absence of depression and vice versa. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore whether depression or apathy better predict financial capacity performance in PD and FTD as well as in nondemented participants. (2) Methods: Eighty-eight participants divided into three groups (PD, FTD and non-demented participants) were examined with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Legal Capacity for Property Law Transactions Assessment Scale (LCPLTAS)—Full and short form. The Geriatric Depression Scale informant version (GDS-15) and the Irritability-Apathy Scale (IAS) we completed by caregivers. (3) Results: The results indicated that both PD and FTD patients’ general cognitive functioning and financial capacity performance is negatively influenced by apathy and not by depression. (4) Conclusions: Differences in financial capacity performance indicate that apathy should not be disregarded in clinical assessments. Further studies on larger PD and FTD populations are necessary in order to investigate the decisive role of mood factors on financial capacity impairment.

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Native α-Synuclein, 3-Nitrotyrosine Proteins, and Patterns of Nitro-α-Synuclein-Immunoreactive Inclusions in Saliva and Submandibulary Gland in Parkinson’s Disease

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10050715 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 715

Author(s):

Emilio Fernández-Espejo ◽

Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca ◽

Juan Suárez ◽

Eduardo Tolosa ◽

Dolores Vilas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Nervous System ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Clinical Feature ◽

Similar Concentration ◽

Duct Cells ◽

Nitrative Stress ◽

Salivary Concentration

Background. Salivary α-synuclein (aSyn) and its nitrated form, or 3-nitrotyrosine-α-synuclein (3-NT-αSyn), hold promise as biomarkers for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD). Nitrative stress that is characterized by an excess of 3-nitrotyrosine proteins (3-NT-proteins) has been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism in IPD. The objective is to study the pathological role of native αSyn, 3-NT-αSyn, and 3-NT-proteins in the saliva and submandibulary glands of patients with IPD. Methods. The salivary and serum αSyn and 3-NT-proteins concentration is evaluated with ELISA in patients and controls. Correlations of αSyn and 3-NT-proteins content with clinical features of the disease are examined. Immunohistochemical 3-NT-αSyn expression in submandibulary gland sections is analyzed. Results. (a) Salivary concentration and saliva/serum ratios of native αSyn and 3-NT-proteins are similar in patients and controls; (b) salivary αSyn and 3-NT-proteins do not correlate with any clinical feature; and (c) three patterns of 3-NT-αSyn-positive inclusions are observed on histological sections: rounded “Lewy-type” aggregates of 10–25 µm in diameter, coarse deposits with varied morphology, and spheroid inclusions or bodies of 3–5 µm in diameter. “Lewy-type” and coarse inclusions are observed in the interlobular connective tissue of the gland, and small-sized bodies are located within the cytoplasm of duct cells. “Lewy-type” inclusions are only observed in patients, and the remaining patterns of inclusions are observed in both the patients and controls. Conclusions. The patients’ saliva presents a similar concentration of native αSyn and 3-nitrotyrosine-proteins than that of the controls, and no correlations with clinical features are found. These findings preclude the utility of native αSyn in the saliva as a biomarker, and they indicate the absence of nitrative stress in the saliva and serum of patients. As regards nitrated αSyn, “Lewy-type” inclusions expressing 3-NT-αSyn are observed in the patients, not the controls—a novel finding that suggests that a biopsy of the submandibulary gland, if proven safe, could be a useful technique for diagnosing IPD. Finally, to our knowledge, this is also the first description of 3-NT-αSyn-immunoreactive intracytoplasmic bodies in cells that are located outside the nervous system. These intracytoplasmic bodies are present in duct cells of submandibulary gland sections from all subjects regardless of their pathology, and they can represent an aging or involutional change. Further immunostaining studies with different antibodies and larger samples are needed to validate the data.

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A Comparison of Pain between Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy: A Clinical Cross-Sectional Survey

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2019/3150306 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

He-Yang You ◽

Lei Wu ◽

Hai-Ting Yang ◽

Chen Yang ◽

Xiao-Ling Ding

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Multiple System Atrophy ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Disease Rating ◽

Vas Scores

Background. Pain is frequent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Parkinson-plus syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, therapy (especially the effect of dopaminergic therapy), and associated symptoms of pain in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. Methods. Seventy-one PD patients, sixty-five MSA patients, and forty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled and evaluated by using the German pain questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). In addition, the influence of pain in PD patients on anxiety, depression, and the quality of life was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Results. Compared to that of the healthy controls, the PD and MSA patients had a significantly higher presence of pain (P<0.01, P<0.01). PD patients had a higher presence of pain than MSA patients (P=0.007). No difference in VAS scores was observed between the PD and MSA patients (P=0.148). A total of 21 PD patients (42.85%) with pain and 13 MSA patients (43.33%) with pain received treatment. A total of 13 PD patients with pain and 6 MSA patients with pain had an improved pain intensity after using dopaminergic medication. The differences in the disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr stages, and scores on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor score, HAD-D, HAD-A, and PDQ-39 were significant between the PD patients with and without pain. Conclusion. PD and MSA patients are prone to pain with insufficient treatment. Pain interventions should be provided as soon as possible to improve the patient’s life.

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