Swallowing Anxiety in Parkinson’s Patients and Relationship with Anxiety and Depression Levels

Authors : Rümeysa Macit, Melike Mercan Başpınar, Hacı Ali Erdoğan, Vildan Yayla, Okcan Basat
Pages : 276-281
Doi:10.53446/actamednicomedia.1642741
View : 40 | Download : 20
Publication Date : 2025-10-22
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between swallowing anxiety and anxiety and depression levels in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients. Methods: The study was conducted with 115 adults who applied the Parkinson’s Clinic of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul. After collecting the participants\\\' socio-demographic information and medical histories, the Swallowing Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale were administered. All data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage values, with group variables evaluated by chi-square test. Results: The average age of the 115 PD patients was 67.84 ± 10.4 years, and the mean score on the Parkinson’s Swallowing Anxiety Scale was 7.26 ± 9.16, indicating a swallowing anxiety level of 8.2% based on the maximum achievable score. A relationship was observed between swallowing anxiety and the Hoehn-Yahr staging (p=0.000, r=0.444), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (p=0.000, r=0.712), and Beck Depression Inventory scores (p=0.000, r=0.579), respectively. Of the participants, 40.9% were female and showed significantly higher scores on the Swallowing Anxiety Scale versus men (p=0.000). No significant association was found between swallowing anxiety and age, or disease duration (p=0.137, p=0.134). Swallowing anxiety was notably higher in individuals with depression (p=0.004). Conclusion: Swallowing anxiety in PD patients appears to be associated with anxiety and depression, independently of disease duration. This finding is significant in terms of quality of life and disease prognosis, highlighting the need for early intervention in swallowing anxiety and associated anxiety and depression, especially in female patients, before the onset of nutritional impairment.
Keywords : parkinson hastalığı, yutma kaygısı, anksiyete, depresyon

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