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. 2021 Apr;12(2):323-328.
doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1722840. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease: Correlation with Depression and Quality of Life

Ankush Upneja  1 , Birinder S Paul  2 , Dinesh Jain  3 , Rupesh Choudhary  4 , Gunchan Paul  5
Affiliations

Anxiety in Parkinson's Disease: Correlation with Depression and Quality of Life

Ankush Upneja et al. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction Anxiety is common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Its prevalence ranges from 20 to 40% but despite that, the high prevalence anxiety in PD is often undiagnosed and untreated. This research was aimed to study the pattern of anxiety with regard to its prevalence and risk factors and to establish the association of anxiety with depression and quality of life (QOL) in patients with PD. Methods A total of 105 patients with PD were prospectively observed. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded and patients were assessed for anxiety (the Parkinson anxiety scale [PAS]), depression (geriatric depression scale [GDS]), and QOL (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 [PDQ-39]). Multiple forward logistic regression analysis was done for parameters showing association with anxiety. Pearson's correlation was used to calculate the strength of association of depression and QOL with anxiety. Results Anxiety was present in 56 PD patients (53.3%). Episodic anxiety was noted in 50%, avoidance behavior in 35%, and persistent anxiety in 15% of these patients. There was significant association of anxiety with duration of disease ( p = 0.001), severity ( p < 0.005), levodopa equivalent dose (LED; p = 0.001), and tremor phenotype of PD ( p = 0.004). Anxiety coexisted with depression in 50 patients (79.4%), which was statistically significant in our cohort ( p = 0.001). There was significant linear relationship between the PAS and PDQ-39. Conclusion Anxiety exerts a negative impact on the QOL as revealed by proportionately worsening PDQ-39 and PAS scores. Screening for anxiety will allow efficient delivery of support and treatment to patients with PD and their families.

Keywords: Parkinson’s anxiety scale; Parkinson’s disease; anxiety; anxiety and depression; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anxiety spectrum prevalent in patients with Parkinson’s disease. ( A ) Distribution according to subdomains. ( B ) Distribution according to severity.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of anxiety and depression prevalent in patients with Parkinson’s disease ( n = 105).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Impact of anxiety assessed by PAS on quality of life assessed by PDQ-39 represented as partial regression plot and bar diagram. PAS, the Parkinson anxiety scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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