Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment approaches for NPS in PD.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by traditional motor features. However, non-motor symptoms emerge inevitably through the disease progression. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are the most common and may surpass motor symptoms as the major factors impacting patient quality of life.

Method: This is a retrospective study on medical file of 78 patients with PD, collected at the neurology department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda, during a period from September 2015 to March 2021. All patients benefited of rigorous neuropsychiatric evaluation by using these rating scales: BDI (Beck depression inventory) and HAM-D (Hamilton Rating Scale) for Depression, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety, Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) for psychosis and Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) for apathy.

Results: The mean age was 68 years, 60% were female. 84% of patients have mood disorders. The most Neuropsychiatric found are in decreasing order of frequency: depression (61%), anxiety (41%) and apathy (29%). 27% have Psychosis. These symptoms preceded the onset of motor symptoms by many years in 23% of patients. Our management strategies include adjustment of dopaminergic medication, use of psychotropic treatments and behavioural and psychological approaches.

Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric symptoms in PD should be considered an integral part of the disease, hence a multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve the overall outcome of PD also through raised awareness and enriched knowledge on NPS.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuropsychiatric-issues-in-parkinsons-disease/