title: Parkinson's disease, depression, and ECT: a review and case study.
abstract: The author reviews the association between Parkinson's disease and depression and presents evidence to support the hypothesis that depression may be not only reactive but biochemically related to the disease. A psychotically depressed patient with parkinsonism responded positively to ECT as shown by improvement on a depression rating scale, two extrapyramidal rating scales, and handwriting samples. The beneficial effect on parkinsonian signs occurred before the improvement in depression, which suggests that ECT has a specific antiparkinsonian effect. Possible explanations for this observation based on biochemical theories of depression are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D012647:Self-Assessment
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine