title: Dopamine receptor agonists and depression in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Depression is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). It is associated with a more rapid progression of physical symptoms, greater decline in cognitive skills, and a poorer quality of life. Despite the high prevalence of depression and antidepressant use in PD, validated guidelines for the treatment of PD-associated depression (dPD) are lacking. Several methodological limitations have been recognized in the available studies examining the treatment of dPD. Some studies support a relevant role of the catecholaminergic systems in the pathogenesis of dPD. In open-label studies, the dopamine receptor agonists pramipexole and pergolide have shown antidepressant effects in PD patients. A placebo-controlled study of pramipexole in dPD is ongoing. The combined results of data from animal models and evidence in human studies support the strategy of dopaminergic stimulation as a treatment of depression. Treatment strategies for depressive symptoms in PD should include optimization of dopaminergic treatment prior to the addition of classic antidepressant drugs, thus reducing the risk of side-effects associated with multi-drug therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picillo
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barone
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists