Can anxiety increase tremors in patients with Parkinson's disease? An experimental model

Autor(es)

Chagas, Marcos Hortes N. ; Oliveira, Tais Helena G. F. ; Linares, Ila M. P. ; Balarini, Fernanda B. ; Chagas, Natalia Mota S. ; Tumas, Vitor ; Crippa, Jose Alexandre S.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY; v. 44, n. 4, p. 85-88, 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Background: Among non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), anxiety occurs in up to 67% of patients. Clinically, PD patients report worsening of tremors in anxiogenic situations. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between motor symptoms and anxiety in PD patients and compare their performances with those of healthy volunteers. Methods: Fifteen volunteers with PD and 15 healthy volunteers without clinically significant psychiatric disorders were evaluated. Both groups were subjected to a simulated public speaking test (SPST). The following parameters were measured: visual analog mood scale (VAMS), items related to tremors of UPDRS, bradykinesia tests, blood pressure, and heart rate. Results: Results of repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant effect on group x phase interaction (F-3.7,F-105.6 = 2.56; p = 0.046) for VAMS anxiety factor. Regarding tremors, ANOVA indicated significant differences in group x phase interaction (F-4.5,F-121 = 2.88; p = 0.021) and between the groups (F-1,F-27 d= 45.88, p < 0.001), with differences in the anticipatory phase, performance, and post-speech, compared with those in the baseline. There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to other factors of VAMS, physiological measurements, and bradykinesia. Discussion: Worsening of tremors occurred during SPST, particularly in phases with higher anxiety scores. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/10483-6 - Correlação entre os níveis de ansiedade e os sintomas motores no teste de Simulação de Falar em Público em Pacientes com Doença de Parkinson
• Beneficiário: Taís Helena Garcia Fernandes de Oliveira
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica