Spatiotemporal gait patterns during over ground locomotion in major depression compared with healthy controls

Alterations of locomotion are frequent, observable features of patients suf fering from depression and have been investigated in these patients by acti graphy, cinematography and ground reaction forces. However, spatiotemporal parameters and neurophysiological mechanisms of gait have not yet been stud ied in depth in depression. The relationship between spatial and temporal p arameters may yield insight into the pathophysiology of altered movements i n depression. Therefore, gait patterns were quantitatively assessed and ana lysed in depressed subjects (n = 16) and compared to matched healthy contro ls. SpatiotemporaI gait parameters were measured during over ground walking at self-selected walking speed on a walkway previously validated in health y subjects and used for orthopaedic and neurological patients. Compared to controls, depressed patients showed significantly lower gait velocity (p < 0.001), reduced stride length (p < 0.005), double limb support (p < 0.005) and cycle duration (p < 0.005). There was a significant correlation between cadence and gait Velocity in depressed patients (r = 0.51, p < 0.05), but not in healthy controls (r = 0.11, p > 0.05). In patients with major depres sion, reduced gait velocity was associated with stride hypometria and incre ased cycle duration. Velocity was associated with cadence in depressed pati ents but not in healthy controls. The results may indicate possible deficie ncies in the motor control system in depression. These first results about alterations of spatiotemporal gait patterns in depression warrant further l ongitudinal and experimental studies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.