Abstract Details

Title Alexithymia a Prevalent, New Determinant of Quality of Life in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) P12 - Poster Session 12 (12:00 PM-1:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 3-008

Objective To identify determinants of alexithymia and its association with quality of life (QoL) in Mexican persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP).

Background A renewed interest in neuropsychiatric symptoms in PWP has emerged. Alexithymia is a neuropsychiatric trait conceptualized as difficulty identifying and describing feelings. Although associated with depression, anxiety and apathy; it remains an independent characteristic of PwP.

Design/Methods Consecutive PwP attending to our center were included. In all patients the following instruments were applied: MDS-UPDRS, Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) and MoCA. Alexithymia was graded according to the Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20). QoL was assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire Short Form (PDQ-8). Clinical variables were compared between alexithymic and non-alexythimic. Variables that differ at the bivariate level were used in multivariate analyses. Alexithymia was used as dependent variables in a logistic regression model, and TAS-20 score as dependent variable in a lineal regression model. Impact of alexithymia on QoL was estimated with a lineal regression model with PDQ-8 as dependent variable.

Results 98 PwP (55.1% male) were recruited. 56.1% were alexithymic and had different disease stage distribution, fewer years of education, higher MDS-UPDRS part III, less frequently on rasagiline, higher prevalence of dementia, lower MoCA, visuospatial/executive, and attention subscores; higher NMSS sleep fatigue, mood/cognition, urinary and miscellaneous subscores. �鶹��ýӳ�� level (OR 0.87 [95% CI 0.76-0.99], p=0.04) and NMSS urinary (OR 1.07 [95% CI 1.0-1.14], p=0.03) predicted alexithymia. �鶹��ýӳ�� level, MDS-UPDRS part III and NMSS urinary remained predictors of TAS-20 (Adjusted R² =0.23, F=3.1, p<0.001). Alexithymia, depression and psychosis proved to be independent QoL determinants (Adjusted R² =0.27, F=5.6, p<0.001).

Conclusions Alexithymia is a prevalent symptom in PwP. In our cohort lower education level and higher NMSS urinary predicted having alexithymia. Whereas education level, motor and urinary symptoms predicted its severity. Screening may be worth since impact to QoL seems relevant.

Authors/Disclosures
Alonso A. Alvarado, MD (Instituto Nacional De Neurologia Y Neurocirugia Manuel Velasco Suarez) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Mayela D. Rodriguez Violante, MD (Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía)	Dr. Rodriguez Violante has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Boston Scientific. Dr. Rodriguez Violante has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Sandoz Novartis. Dr. Rodriguez Violante has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Zydus. The institution of Dr. Rodriguez Violante has received research support from LARGE-PD.