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. 2007 Dec;3(6):903-6.
doi: 10.2147/ndt.s1214.

The patients' perspective: Results of a survey assessing knowledge about and attitudes toward depression in PD

Irene Hegeman Richard  1 , Kori A LaDonna, Rosanne Hartman, Carol Podgorski, Roger Kurlan; SAD-PD Study Group
Affiliations

The patients' perspective: Results of a survey assessing knowledge about and attitudes toward depression in PD

Irene Hegeman Richard et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2007 Dec.

Abstract

We report results of a survey assessing patients' knowledge about and attitudes towards depression in Parkinson's disease (PD). 345 patients from 8 tertiary care centers responded (43% response rate). Overall, patients were relatively knowledgeable about depression and its occurrence in PD. However, many patients believed that depression is a normal reaction to the illness. While many respondents would be reluctant to initiate a discussion of depression during a clinical evaluation, most would feel comfortable talking about depression with their physician if he or she asked them questions about their mood. Based on the results of this survey, we recommend the following approach for physicians: (1) inform PD patients that, although a frequent occurrence, depression need not be accepted as a "normal reaction" to PD; and (2) routinely inquire about depressive symptoms rather than waiting for the patient to spontaneously report them.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; depression; survey.

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