Assessing self-awareness of dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease through movie materials

Funct Neurol. 2011 Jul-Sep;26(3):121-6.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine self-awareness of dyskinesias and other core motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) through the use of movie presentations. A scale based on 10 movies (five depicting dyskinesias and five showing core symptoms) and the Self-Assessment Parkinson's Disease Disability Scale were administered to 21 patients (all with a Mini-Mental State Examination - MMSE score ≥ 25). Neurological assessment included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Hoehn-Yahr and Schwab-England scales. In addition, the MMSE, Beck Depression Inventory and Stroop task were administered. Overall, patient and caregiver ratings of dyskinesias and core PD symptoms were consistent. Two patients (9%) completely denied dyskinesias, while four patients (19%) significantly underestimated their dyskinesias. Our results confirm that poor self-awareness of symptoms in PD may be selective and that denial of dyskinesias affects only a minority of patients with normal cognitive status (MMSE ≥ 25). Most patients are aware of the presence of dyskinesias. Poor self-awareness of dyskinesias is associated with longer disease duration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Awareness*
  • Caregivers / psychology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Dyskinesias* / diagnosis
  • Dyskinesias* / etiology
  • Dyskinesias* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Middle Aged
  • Motion Pictures*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Self-Assessment*
  • Statistics as Topic