Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0030567 (Parkinson's disease)
 63,064 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Animal data indicate that serotonin (5-HT) is a major neurotransmitter involved in the control of numerous central nervous system functions including mood, aggression, pain, anxiety, sleep, memory, eating behavior, addictive behavior, temperature control, endocrine regulation, and motor behavior. Moreover, there is evidence that abnormalities of 5-HT functions are related to the pathophysiology of diverse neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskinesia, akathisia, dystonia, Huntington's disease, familial tremor, restless legs syndrome, myoclonus, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, and dementia. The psychiatric disorders of schizophrenia, mania, depression, aggressive and self-injurious behavior, obsessive compulsive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, substance abuse, hypersexuality, anxiety disorders, bulimia, childhood hyperactivity, and behavioral disorders in geriatric patients have been linked to impaired central 5-HT functions. Tryptophan, the natural amino acid precursor in 5-HT biosynthesis, increases 5-HT synthesis in the brain and, therefore, may stimulate 5-HT release and function. Since it is a natural constituent of the diet, tryptophan should have low toxicity and produce few side effects. Based on these advantages, dietary tryptophan supplementation has been used in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders with variable success. This review summarizes current clinical use of tryptophan supplementation in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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PMID:L-tryptophan in neuropsychiatric disorders: a review. 130 30

To study the prevalence and importance of anxiety disorders in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, the authors systematically evaluated 24 parkinsonian patients for the presence of DSM-III-R axis I syndromes. Nine subjects (38%) had a clinically significant current anxiety disorder. Severity of anxiety was not correlated with severity of parkinsonian symptoms, cumulative duration of L-dopa exposure, or current dose of L-dopa. These findings suggest that anxiety disorders should be considered in the medical evaluation and treatment of parkinsonian patients and that further attention should be paid to the role of the dopaminergic system in anxiety and phobic disorders.
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PMID:Anxiety disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease. 198 32

In a 39-year-old man with Parkinson's disease and a history of anxiety disorders, anxiety-provoking situations such as group psychotherapy precipitated panic attacks and caused pronounced worsening of the parkinsonian symptoms. Extra doses of carbidopa-levodopa failed to control the intensified symptoms. During a 1-month hospitalization period, the anxiety disorders diminished when a combination of psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and desipramine was used; however, the relationship between increased anxiety and worsened parkinsonian symptoms persisted. In patients with refractory Parkinson's disease, clinicians should consider the possibility of the presence of an anxiety disorder that may be affecting the neurologic condition.
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PMID:Parkinson's disease complicated by anxiety. 360 42

Nonhuman primates are excellent animal models for human diseases because of their close relationship to humans. Indeed, comparisons of the chromosomes and DNA homologies between primates and humans testify to the commonality of the genetic material between these phylogenetically related species. Not surprisingly, this close relationship at the genotypic level extends to the phenotypic level. Thus, the patho-physiological responses of humans and nonhuman primates to internal and external insults are remarkably similar. Two types of human diseases for which nonhuman primates are paramount animal models are discussed. One type includes diseases with defined, single agent etiologies and to which all members of the species are genetically susceptible. Examples of these are leprosy, AIDS, hepatitis and Parkinson's disease. A second type represents diseases that have a substantial genetic component, but are multifactorial and are greatly influenced by the environment. Examples of these are diabetes, lymphoma, atherosclerosis, alcoholic cirrhosis and anxiety disorders. Nonhuman primates are also ideally suited to the role of animal models in the new area of human gene therapy. In the future, biomedical research will focus increasingly on genetic manipulations such as the transfer of genes from one individual to another to correct genetic diseases, particularly those diseases caused by single recessive gene defects. Before gene transfers are attempted in humans, they should be done in nonhuman primates. In a real sense, nonhuman primates, as animal models, represent the "step to man."
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PMID:Genetic significance of some common primate models in biomedical research. 360 96

Previous work has suggested that anxiety disorders are common in patients with Parkinson's disease. To study the relationship between anxiety and response fluctuations in Parkinson's patients further, we compared changes in Spielberger anxiety state scores with changes in parkinsonian disability as determined by the Parkinson's symptom diary (PSD). Anxiety state and PSD scores were obtained in 19 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease during on and off periods. Spielberger anxiety state scores were higher during off periods than during on periods (38.8 +/- 12.4 vs. 45.6 +/- 12.4, p < 0.03); further, the magnitude of the change in anxiety state scores was correlated with the change in PSD scores (rs = 0.616, p = 0.006). Spielberger anxiety trait scores were also correlated with disease duration. Our findings support existing data suggesting that anxiety can contribute significantly to morbidity in Parkinson's disease and suggest that anxiety varies with fluctuations in motor performance.
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PMID:Anxiety and motor performance in Parkinson's disease. 823 61

Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently accompanied by symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the relationship between anxiety and depression has not been rigorously defined in these patients. In this study, 42 patients with PD and 21 matched medical controls were evaluated using DSM-III-R criteria and a variety of psychiatric rating scales. Twelve (29%) PD patients but only one medical control had a formal anxiety disorder diagnosis. Of the 12 patients with PD who had an anxiety disorder diagnosis, 11 (92%) had a comorbid depressive disorder diagnosis. Of the 18 patients with a depressive disorder, 12 (67%) also had an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Furthermore, a stepwise regression analysis found that the depression measure explained 44% of the variance in anxiety measures whereas neither the severity of illness variables nor the levodopa dose contributed significantly to the variance. This study suggests that the excess anxiety found in PD patients is unlikely to be primarily a psychologic reaction to the illness or a side effect of levodopa treatment. Rather, we suggest that anxiety and depression are related manifestations of the underlying neurochemical changes of PD itself.
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PMID:Parkinson's disease and anxiety: comorbidity with depression. 826 31

The relationship between depression and disability in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) was examined in 31 outpatients. Thirteen percent had current major depression (MD), 10% dysthymia, and 32% a lifetime history of MD. Depression was significantly related to both illness severity and functional impairment. Male patients with early-onset PD (before age 55) had more mood and anxiety disorders than late-onset male patients. Patients with right-sided PD had significantly more depressive symptoms than those with left-sided PD. On multiple regression analyses, depression predicted impaired social, role, and physical functioning for men (but not for women), independent of the impact of illness severity. The results suggest that treatment of depression may improve function; however, findings of gender differences will require replication.
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PMID:Depression and disability in Parkinson's disease. 884 97

Anxiety disorders, particularly generalized anxiety, panic, and social phobia, occur in up to 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This rate is higher than in normal or other disease comparison populations. Current evidence suggests that anxiety may not be a psychological reaction to the illness but rather may be linked to specific neurobiologic processes accompanying PD. Anxiety in PD often coexists with depression. The optimal pharmacologic treatment for anxiety in patients with PD has not been established, but available information about the use of anxiolytics in PD is reviewed. Further study of the relationship between anxiety and PD may provide an excellent opportunity to clarify the neurobiologic substrate of anxiety itself.
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PMID:Anxiety and Parkinson's disease. 911 73

This article provides a brief overview of the psychiatric syndromes most common in the elderly patient, as well as those most frequently accompanying neurologic disease. Diagnosis, work up, and treatment of depressive, psychotic, and anxiety disorders are also reviewed. This article is directed toward the practicing neurologist, with an emphasis on detection and treatment. Special attention is paid to psychiatric syndromes that accompany Parkinson's disease, stroke, and dementia. A brief review of the most common psychopharmacological agents is included as well.
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PMID:Psychiatry in the geriatric neurology practice. 966 40

Social anxiety disorder has only recently garnered recognition as a unique anxiety disorder. Although social anxiety disorder is distinguishable from other psychiatric disorders, there are several areas in which this distinction is not straightforward. Furthermore, social anxiety disorder is associated with considerable comorbidity with other disorders, which may render differential diagnosis a challenging endeavor. This article will review those disorders that must be differentiated from social anxiety disorder, including major depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder. In addition, the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) provides specific examples of disorders, e.g., verbal dysfluency (stuttering) and Parkinson's disease, in the context of which social anxiety disorder is not to be diagnosed. Social anxiety disorder is also frequently comorbid with the Axis II avoidant personality disorder. Interestingly, this may present a prime example of "comorbidity by committee," because it is growing increasingly clear that much avoidant personality disorder as defined by DSM-IV merely denotes a subgroup of patients with generalized social anxiety disorder. Because social anxiety disorder has a chronic course and is associated with significant morbidity, it is critical that patients receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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PMID:The history, epidemiology, and differential diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. 1033 73


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