Parkinson's disease is characterized by neurological symptoms: tremor, rigor, bradykinesia and postural instability, but psychical symptoms are also present, most frequent depression and dementia.

Depression can precede neurological symptoms of disease, or be manifestation of illness itself. In literature, we find that depression major is represented in 5 – 25% of diagnosed patients, and depressive mood as isolated symptom in 40 – 60%.

Purpose of this study was to determine presence of depressive syndrome in patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and whether this syndrome is therapeutically sensitive. Study included all patients treated with Parkinson's disease, inmate and outpatients, during the two - year period (from 01.01.2007. up to 31.01.2009.). Hamilton's Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used as instrument of clinical assessment for depression, and schedule neurological examinations once a month to evaluate neurological status of patients.

Base - line scoring showed that almost 50% of patients had symptoms of depression; it was more frequent in elderly patients, treated with polytherapy. In follow - up period, we assessed patients after three and six months of antidepressive therapy. Results of statistic analysis showed improvement of psychic status of patients, according to HAMD score, in three quarters of followed patients. Exacerbation of neurological symptoms was not observed during the follow - up period.