Cognitive and motor function in patients with Paskinson's disease with andwithout depression

The objective of this study was to define risk factors for depression in pa tients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (FD) and to evaluate the correla tion of depression with cognitive function and the primary domains of parki nsonian motor dysfunction tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, gait and balance impairment. The risk factors for depression in patients with PD remain cont roversial. Several investigators have demonstrated a significant associatio n between cognitive dysfunction and depression, but motoric and disease var iables can confound this evaluation and have shown an inconsistent relation to depression. A consecutive series of 88 patients with PD were examined u sing the motor subscale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UP DRSm), Hoehn- Yahr stage (HY), and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HR SD). Major depression was diagnosed according to the criteria in the Diagno stic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. Gender, age, ha ndedness, PD duration, side of PD onset, motor fluctuations, UPDRSm total s core, daily Levodopa dose, and Mini-Mental State Examination score (MMSE) w ere analyzed using multivariate and univariate logistic regression, Fisher' s Exact test, and Pearson correlations. Major depression was diagnosed in 1 2 patients (7.3%). Low MMSE score, axial bradykinesia, gait and balance imp airment were strongly significant predictors of depression. In conclusion, depression and physical function are important factors impairing the qualit y of life for patients with PD, and regular depression screening and treatm ent should focus on patients with PD who have cognitive impairment, high ax ial bradykinesia, gait and balance impairment.