Pain in Parkinson disease: a cross-sectional survey of its prevalence, specifics, and therapy.

We aimed to evaluate prevalence, phenotype, and therapeutic realities of pain in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Therefore, we assessed 181 outpatients with PD using a cross-sectional approach applying the German Pain Questionaire (DSF), the PainDetect, and a self-developed Parkinson Disease Pain Questionaire (UPDPQ) covering detailed therapeutic aspects. Furthermore, we investigated the association between pain and PD-disease characteristics, quality of life (PDQ-39), depression, and anxiety (HADS-D, HADS-A).

Influence of Dopaminergic Medication on Conditioned Pain Modulation in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Background: Pain is highly prevalent in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known about the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The susceptibility to pain is known to depend on ascending and descending pathways. Because parts of the descending pain inhibitory system involve dopaminergic pathways, dysregulations in dopaminergic transmission might contribute to altered pain processing in PD.