Objective:

Recent evidence has underscored the detrimental effects of chronic stress on health, particularly its impact on neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Our study seeks to investigate the complex relationship between autonomic dysfunction and stress-related disorders in PD, aiming to enhance our understanding of these conditions.

Methods:

We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of PD patients from a movement disorders clinic in Monterrey, Mexico. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Autonomic symptoms were assessed using the Scale for Outcomes in PD-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT), with patients stratified into two groups based on scores (≥ 10 or < 10). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessment included traumatic experiences and structured interviews using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), Checklist for DSM-5 PTSD (PCL-5), acute stress disorder scale, DSM-5 criteria for adaptive disorder, and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire.

Results:

The study included 32 PD patients and revealed a significant association between post-traumatic stress symptoms and autonomic dysfunction. Those with higher post-traumatic stress symptoms, as measured by the PCL-5 scale, exhibited more pronounced autonomic dysfunction, as indicated by higher SCOPA-AUT scores. Traumatic events were also more prevalent in the group with severe autonomic dysfunction, suggesting a link between trauma and autonomic symptoms in PD patients.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that post-traumatic stress symptoms may exacerbate autonomic dysfunction in PD patients. This underscores the need for further research to explore mechanisms and therapeutic implications and emphasizes the importance of considering stress-related disorders in the management of PD.

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