Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a sample of consecutive patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disabling illness, associated with a high prevalence of depression. Although depression is known risk factor for suicidal ideation, little is known about the prevalence of suicidal behavior in PD.

Methods: To 109 consecutive PD patients was administered a modified version of the Paykel Scale to assess suicidal and death ideation, Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology to measure the severity of depression, cognitive status was assessed by the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE), and psychosis with the Parkinson’s Psychosis Rating Scale (PPRS). Severity of PD was assessed with the Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and motor score with the Hoehn and Yahr Scale. Patients provided the information about demographic and clinical characteristics during a semi-structured clinical interview.

Results: The duration of PD was 7.3 years, UPDRS motor score was 19.4, Hoehn and Yahr stage 2.4. Major depression had 28% of the patients, psychosis had 30% of the PD patients, patients had intact global cognition and only 4 patients had an MMSE score <24. Death or suicide ideation was present at 31% of the PD patients, but only 6 subjects (5.5%) reported a suicide attempt. Severity of depressive symptoms, presence of psychosis, a history of ICD behaviors were associated with the presence of death or suicidal ideation.

Conclusions: One-third of PD patients had suicidal or death ideation. Comorbid psychiatric disorders are associated with suicidal ideation in Parkinson’s disease. These results highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to the clinical care of patients with PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-role-of-depression-in-suicidal-ideation-in-a-sample-of-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/