The motor performance test series in Parkinson's disease is influenced by depression

Abstract

The Motor Performance Test Series (MPTS) is widely used for treatment control in Parkinson's disease (PD). To elucidate the possible influence of depression on the fine motor skills in PD, 54 patients with idiopathic PD were investigated with the MPTS. 27 patients with major intensity of depression were compared to 27 age and motor disability matched patients with minor symptoms of depression, evaluated by the Zung depression scale. As determined by the subtest aiming, a significant lower 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 hand impairment of special motor loops including frontal lobe projections to specific thalamic subnuclei or to the caudate nucleus may cause disturbances of the subtest aiming in depressed Parkinsonian patients. On the basis of these findings impaired aiming may be explained by diminished ability for complex, semivoluntary movements in depressive Parkinsonian patients. The influence of psychiatric comorbidity on MPTS subtest aiming has to be considered in further therapy studies using evaluation of motor deficits by MPTS.

The accuracy of diagnosis of major depression in patients with Parkinson's disease: a comparative study among the UPDRS, the geriatric depression scale and the Beck depression inventory

“…We may conclude that the optimal cut-off scores for the BdI and Gds15 did not differ substantially for screening depression in the community or in patients with pd. In our study, the level of depression was not correlated with the intensity of motor symptoms or with the functional capacity as was previously reported by others 25,26 , and we did not find an association between the degree of depression and the duration of the disease. The lack of association between motor and affective symptoms in pd is considered to be clinical evidence that depression may be induced by distinct pathophysiological mechanisms than those responsible for the motor signs.…”

[¹²³I]β-CIT SPECT Visualizes Dopamine Transporter Loss in de novo Parkinsonian Patients

“…Plugging measures repetitive complex hand movements -the subject is asked to transfer 25 pins (diameter: 2.5 mm, length: 5 cm), individually and as quickly as possible, from a rack into a series of appropriate holes (diameter: 2.8 mm) of a contact board. Estimated is the time interval between plugging in the first and the last pin [11,12]. Beck's Depression inventory [BDI, mean: 7.0 B 6.12 (SD), range: 0-26, n = 33] was used to score intensity of depression in parkinsonian subjects.…”

Depression and parkinson's disease: a new look at an old problem

“…By contrast, some studies have demonstrated a stronger correlation between the relative changes in disability in individuals diagnosed over 1 year [Brown et al, 1988], correlation between disability and depression late in the course of PD , and correlation between disability and cognitive impairment Tandberg et al, 1997]. Depression in PD is also correlated with decreased motor performance [Kuhn et al, 1996] and treating depression may improve motor function .…”

“…These depressive symptoms were shown to have a significant impact on measures of quality of life [Kuopio et al, 2000]. Other researchers have found a similar association between depression and activities of daily living (ADLs), cognitive function Stern et al, 1993], and motor symptoms [Kuhn et al, 1996] in patients with PD.…”