Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Dissociating apathy and depression in Parkinson disease.

Kirsch-Darrow L, Fernandez HF, Marsiske M, Okun MS, Bowers D

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608, USA. lkirsch@phhp.ufl.edu

OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that apathy is a core feature of Parkinson disease (PD) and that apathy can be dissociated from depression. METHODS: Eighty patients with PD and 20 patients with dystonia completed depression and apathy measures including the Marin Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: There was a significantly higher severity and frequency of apathy in PD (frequency = 51%, 41/80) than in dystonia (frequency = 20%, 4/20). Apathy in the absence of depression was frequent in PD and did not occur in dystonia (PD = 28.8%, dystonia = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) experienced significantly higher frequency and severity of apathy when compared with patients with dystonia. Apathy may be a "core" feature of PD and occurs in the absence of depression.

Published 11 July 2006 in Neurology, 67(1): 33-8.
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