Up to 60% of those with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) will experience depression in their lifetime. Yet even with the high rate of occurrence of depression, there are a number of people with PD whose symptoms go undetected and untreated.
It's the old “chicken and egg” question “Does the depression cause PD" or "does PD cause depression?"
PD symptoms can overlap with depression symptoms such as in insomnia, slow movements, poor concentration, and fatigue.
The stigma of depression and not wanting to appear weak often prevent people from seeking treatment. Treatment for depression often includes psychotherapy and/or anti-depressants.
While treatment will not eliminate the PD symptoms, these problems may appear to be more manageable and treatment may provide you with the confidence that while you are not in charge of these symptoms, you are in charge of your attitude and reaction toward them.
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.