title: Depression in Parkinson's disease: clinical-epidemiological correlates and comparison with a controlled group of non-parkinsonian geriatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the frequency and severity of major depression in patients with Parkinson's disease and in individuals older than 60 years without neurological, rheumatological and/or oncological comorbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 50 patients with Parkinson's disease older than 60 years and 50 geriatric patients. Subjects with scores of Mini Mental State Examination indicating cognitive impairment were excluded. We used Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases-IV criteria to diagnose major depression and the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory to rate it. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part 3 and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to evaluate the motor severity of Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major depression was found in 42% of Parkinson's disease patients and in 10% of the geriatric patients (p < 0.001). The scores of the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were higher in Parkinson's disease patients (p < 0.001). Depressed Parkinson's disease patients had longer duration of Parkinson's disease (p = 0.020) and higher scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part 3 (p = 0.029) and the Yahr Scale (p = 0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency (42%) and severity of major depression were higher in Parkinson's disease patients. Longer duration of Parkinson's disease, higher scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part 3 and the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were significantly associated with major depression.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Course, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. bia-anjos@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Beatriz Azevedo Dos Anjos Godke
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Vanderci
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Sonia Maria César de Azevedo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Fabrício de Oliveira
authors.initials: Fde O
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.forename: Maysa Seabra
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cendoroglo
authors.forename: Henrique Ballalai
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales