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Commentary Open Access
Volume 3 | Issue 1 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.33696/Psychiatry.3.021

The Challenge of Disentangling Parkinson’s-related Fatigue and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

  • 1Department of Neurology, Sanford Health, 2301 25th St S Fargo, North Dakota, 58103, USA
  • 2Department of Psychology; Minnesota State Community and Technical College, 1900 28th Ave S, Moorhead, MN, USA
  • 3Department of Neurology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Science, 1301 N Columbia Rd Grand Forks, ND, USA
+ Affiliations - Affiliations

Corresponding Author

Asenath X. A. Huether, Asenath.Huether@Minnesota.edu

Received Date: January 16, 2025

Accepted Date: January 30, 2025

Abstract

Fatigue is among the most prevalent and debilitating non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the focal article, “Screening cut-off scores for clinically significant fatigue in early Parkinson’s disease”, we discussed the challenges of evaluating fatigue in PD and proposed cut-off scores for select fatigue assessments. This commentary expands on the challenges of evaluating fatigue, especially when it presents alongside psychiatric symptoms. We examine and compare the similarities of fatigue and depression, anxiety, and apathy. Overlapping symptoms include reduced motivation, difficulty sustaining attention, and diminished energy. The challenge of disentangling the phenomena is further complicated by symptoms of PD, which may present with similarities to psychiatric symptoms (e.g., bradykinesia, masked facies, and sleep disturbances). Accurate evaluation and diagnosis of each condition is necessary for a comprehensive approach to PD patient treatment and symptom monitoring.

Keywords

Parkinson’s disease, Fatigue, Avolition, Non-motor symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, Apathy

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