Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2015
In this review article, based on a literature study, present ideas upon the relation between M. Parkinson and concomittant depression are dicussed. After a short introduction, it is demonstrated that epidemiological studies show that a common pathophysiological basis can be assumed. Briefly pheno-menological aspects are mentioned, whereafter the changes in the different neurotransmittersystems are discussed in greater detail. The ratio of dopaminergic and serotonergic activities in the basal ganglia constitute an important determinant for the severity of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Reduced serotonergic metabolism may be a compensatory mechanism for the reduced dopaminergic activity. At the same time, a reduced serotonergic activity can predispose to a depression. Lower activities in parts of the dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems may each be responsible for part of the affective symptomatology in depressed Parkinson patients.