Depression in patients with early versus late onset of Parkinson's disease.
We examined correlates of depression in patients whose onset of Parkinson's disease (PD) began before age 55 (early-onset group) compared with patients whose onset was after age 55 (late-onset group). The early-onset group showed a significantly higher frequency of depression than the late-onset group. When both groups were matched for duration of the disease, the early-onset group still showed a significantly higher frequency of depression, whereas tremor, akinesia, and rigidity were significantly more severe in the late-onset group. A stepwise regression analysis showed that in the early-onset group, depression scores were significantly correlated with scores of cognitive impairment and duration of the disease, while in the late-onset group, depression scores were significantly correlated with impairments in activities of daily living. These data suggest that depression in patients with early-onset PD may have a different etiology than in patients with late-onset PD.
Starkstein
S E
SE
Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD.
Berthier
M L
ML
Bolduc
P L
PL
Preziosi
T J
TJ
Robinson
R G
RG
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales