DEPRESSION IN MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY AND IN IDIOPATHIC PARKINSONS-DISEASE - A PILOT COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a disease causing severe parkinsonism in which response to levodopa is classically absent, poor or transien t, Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) itself which responds favorabl y to levodopa, has been associated with the development of disease-rel ated depression. Over and above the clinical and pathological characte ristics of IPD, MSA causes additional move widespread, clinical and pa thological deficits. We have compared motor disability and mood in 12 patients with MSA and 12 with IPD. There was more severe motor disabil ity, but no clinical evidence of depression among the MSA patients stu died, and their Beck Depression Inventory scores did not differ signif icantly from the group with IPD, We conclude that depression does not appear to be more common in MSA than in IPD.