Predictors of Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease: The Role of Mental Health and Internalized Stigma.

Poorer quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and motor severity.

• Linear regression model explained 47% of variance in QoL (R2 = 0.47)
• Quality of life was measured with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39)
• Motor severity was assessed with the MDS-UPDRS Part III
• Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 respectively
• Sample included 48 patients with Parkinson's disease (58.3% male)

Caregiver burden in primary caregivers of Parkinson's disease patients was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and perceived discrimination (an internalized stigma subdomain).

• Linear regression model explained 53% of variance in caregiver burden (R2 = 0.53)
• Caregiver burden was measured with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)
• Perceived discrimination is a subdomain of the King Internalized Stigma Scale (ISS)
• Sample included 38 primary caregivers (55.3% female)

Anxiety severity differed significantly between patients with Parkinson's disease and their primary caregivers.

• Chi-square test: χ2 = 11.7, p = 0.008
• Anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale
• No between-group differences were observed in internalized stigma (ISS total score and subdomains)

A significant discrepancy existed between caregivers and patients in reporting assistance with activities of daily living.

• 63.2% of primary caregivers reported providing assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Only 20.8% of patients with Parkinson's disease reported receiving such assistance
• The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001)

The study sample had a mean disease duration of 7.3 years with nearly all patients on dopaminergic replacement therapy.

• Mean disease duration was 7.3 years (SD = 4.6; range 1–26 years)
• 97.9% of patients with Parkinson's disease were on dopaminergic replacement therapy
• 43.8% of patients reported comorbidities
• Cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary neurological center in Mexico