THE MOTOR-PERFORMANCE TEST SERIES IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE IS INFLUENCEDBY DEPRESSION

The Motor Performance Test Series (MPTS) is widely used for treatment control in Parkinson's disease (PD). To elucidate the possible influen ce of depression on the fine motor skills in PD, 54 patients with idio pathic PD were investigated with the MPTS. 27 patients with major inte nsity of depression were compared to 27 age and motor disability match ed patients with minor symptoms of depression. evaluated by the Zung d epression scale. As determined by the subtest aiming, a significant lo wer ability for precise, quick complex arm-hand movements in depressed Parkinsonian patients was found. This result may be explained partly by motivation deficits in depressed patients with PD. On the other han d impairment of special motor loops including frontal lobe projections to specific thalamic subnuclei or to the caudate nucleus may cause di sturbances of the subtest aiming in depressed Parkinsonian patients. O n the basis of these findings impaired aiming may be explained by dimi nished ability for complex, semivoluntary movements in depressive Park insonian patients. The influence of psychiatric comorbidity on MPTS su btest aiming has to be considered in further therapy studies using eva luation of motor deficits by MPTS.