Epidemiology of major depression in Belgian parkinsonian patients.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological data concerning the prevalence of major depression in PD patients in Belgium is very scarce.


METHODS
A total of 1086 patients with idiopathic Parkinsons disease were included in the analysis. The neurological evaluation of the patients was made by the Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinsons disease, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living. The psychiatric evaluation was based on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).


RESULTS
Based on the MINI questionnaire, the overall proportion of PD patients presenting a current major depressive episode was 15.6%. Interestingly, 30% of all patients included had a history of mood disorder and 46% received either an anxiolytic, an antidepressant or an atypical neuroleptic or a combination of them. The characterisation of the profile of depressed parkinsonian patients shows very few patient's parameters (demographics or motor symptoms) to be associated with a higher risk for major depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The PARKIDEP survey confirms a high prevalence of major depression in PD patients in Belgium. A careful follow up of PD patients with a poor functionality, a history of mood disorder or with a complaint of depression or anxiety during the "off" state would help towards a better treatment of the Parkinson's disease associated depression and should improve the quality of life of PD patients.
Vanderheyden
Jean-Emile
JE
jmy.vdh@free.fr
Gonce
Michel
M
Bourgeois
Philip
P
Cras
Patrick
P
De Nayer
André Roch
AR
Flamez
Anja
A
Supiot
Frédéric
F
Donneau
Anne-Françoise
AF
Albert
Adelin
A
Berlaimont
Valérie
V
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents