A comparison of depression, anxiety, and health status in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy

The objective of this study was to compare subjective health status and its correlates in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). One hundred eighty‐eight patients with PSP and 286 patients with MSA completed EQ‐5D and Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale. The impact on mobility, usual activities, and self‐care was similarly high in both groups after similar duration. Fifty‐six percent of PSP and 43% of MSA had probable depression, and 37% of both groups had probable anxiety. Patients with PSP had significantly higher depression scores, but groups did not differ in anxiety scores. Patients with MSA had significantly greater pain/discomfort than patients with PSP. The most important association with subjective health status was with depressive symptoms, which accounted for 38% and 29% of EQ‐5D variance in patients with PSP and MSA, followed by disease severity and anxiety scores. We conclude that depressive symptoms were common in both disorders, but more severe in PSP. Anxiety symptoms affected 37% of patients in both groups and contributed to impaired subjective health status. Pain was more problematic in MSA than PSP. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society