Association of Depression with Balance and Mobility in Patients Suffering from Parkinson’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) represents a gradual neurodegenerative process that involves motor and non-motor functions including the emotional state and the ability to move. One of the main non-motor symptoms of PD is depression and it might seriously affect both the physical performance and the patient's life quality.
Objective: To determine the correlation between depression and mobility problems in the patient population with PD.
Methodology: The study was performed in Lahore, Pakistan, over a course of six months (Jan 2025-Jun2025) at four different tertiary care hospitals. Non-probability convenience sampling was the method used by the researchers which led to the selection of a total of seventy-three (73) individuals with Parkinson's disease who were between the ages of 45-65, had a confirmed diagnosis and were scoring 24 or more on MMSE. The depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), while mobility was evaluated by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. A TUG time of over 13.5 seconds was considered to indicate an increased risk of falling. The connection between depression and mobility was explored using Chi-square analysis.
Results: The research highlighted a clinically meaningful link between the level of depression and the mobility test scores (χ² = 11.989, p = 0.017). Those patients with moderate to borderline depression diagnosis were slower in the TUG test performing and their longer time was indicating that they were at a higher risk of falling. The Cramér's V value was 0.405, which corresponded to a medium degree of connection.
Conclusion: Patients with PD who have more depressive symptoms show less mobility. The mental health screening and intervention that is no longer part of PD care can result in better mobility outcomes and decreased fall risk. Longitudinal studies are suggested to determine causality and assess the combined treatment methods.
Keywords: Beck Depression Inventory, Fall Risk, Mental Health, Parkinson's disease, Timed Up and Go Test
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