Abstract
Anxiety is one of the most clinically significant psychiatric syndromes in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). It is estimated to affect up to 50% of individuals with PD and is associated with higher levels of dependency and poorer quality of life. Although it is common, it remains widely under recognised by patients, carers and clinicians, and has not been extensively studied [1]. Therefore, in spite of its significant impact, the symptomatology, chronology, and neurobiology of anxiety in PD are not well understood.
Recently, anxiety in PD has been associated with increases in motor fluctuations and gait disturbances including freezing. Freezing of gait (FOG) is the temporary inability to walk and is one of the most debilitating symptoms of PD. It is associated with an increase in falls, injuries and dependency. The associations with motor symptoms have significant consequences for the quality of life of people living with PD. This review summarizes the most recent data on the epidemiology, associated features and possible mechanisms underlying anxiety in PD.
Citation
Carlson-Hawke P, Brown B and Hammond S. Anxiety and its Features in Parkinson’s Disease. SM J Neurol Neurosci. 2017; 3(1): 1008.