title: Assessing depression and factors possibly associated with depression during the course of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although research suggests depression is common among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), it is unclear how to best assess depression in PD (dPD). We wanted to examine the prevalence of dPD using different definitions of depression, as well as examine factors associated with dPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-eight individuals (68% male; age 66.8 ± 9.6 SD) with a primary diagnosis of PD were assessed for depression using the Harvard Department of Psychiatry/National Depression Screening Day Scale (HANDS) in an outpatient setting at the Movement Disorders Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. We defined depression using 4 thresholds based on the HANDS and whether or not an individual was ever on an antidepressant regimen. We also examined potential predictors of the presence of dPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of depression among study participants ranged from 11% to 57%, depending on which of the 4 definitions of depression was applied. Younger age and longer duration of PD predicted a relatively higher prevalence of depression. Having a history of depression prior to onset of PD also was predictive of dPD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression appears to be relatively common among individuals with PD, and history of depression, younger age, and longer PD duration may be factors associated with dPD.
authors.affiliation: Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 1 Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA 02114, USA. afarabaugh@partners.org
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Farabaugh
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Locascio
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bitran
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Growdon
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors