TY - JOUR
T1 - Instrumental assessment of balance and gait in depression
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Belvederi Murri, Martino
AU - Triolo, Federico
AU - Coni, Alice
AU - Tacconi, Carlo
AU - Nerozzi, Erika
AU - Escelsior, Andrea
AU - Respino, Matteo
AU - Neviani, Francesca
AU - Bertolotti, Marco
AU - Bertakis, Klea
AU - Chiari, Lorenzo
AU - Zanetidou, Stamatula
AU - Amore, Mario
PY - 2020/2
Y1 - 2020/2
N2 - Psychomotor symptoms of depression are understudied despite having a severe impact on patient outcomes. This review aims to summarize the evidence on motor features of depression assessed with instrumental procedures, and examine age-related differences. We included studies investigating posture, balance and gait ascertained with instrumental measurements among individuals with depressive symptoms or disorders. Studies on subjects with specific physical illnesses were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed with the Newcastle - Ottawa Scale (NOS) and PRISMA guidelines were followed. 33 studies (13 case-control, five cross-sectional, nine longitudinal and six intervention) with overall low-medium quality were included. Different instruments were employed to assess posture (e.g. digital cameras), balance (balance, stepping platform) or gait (e.g. Six-Minute-Walking Test, instrumented walkways). Results suggest that depression in adults is associated with significant impairments of posture, balance and gait. Motor abnormalities among depressed older adults may depend on the interplay of physical diseases, cognitive impairment and mood. Very few intervention studies measured motor symptoms as outcome. Available evidence suggests, however, that antidepressant drugs and physical exercise may be beneficial for motor abnormalities. Despite the lack of high-quality studies, instrumental assessments confirm the presence and importance of motor abnormalities in depression, with potential age-related differences in their pathophysiology.
AB - Psychomotor symptoms of depression are understudied despite having a severe impact on patient outcomes. This review aims to summarize the evidence on motor features of depression assessed with instrumental procedures, and examine age-related differences. We included studies investigating posture, balance and gait ascertained with instrumental measurements among individuals with depressive symptoms or disorders. Studies on subjects with specific physical illnesses were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed with the Newcastle - Ottawa Scale (NOS) and PRISMA guidelines were followed. 33 studies (13 case-control, five cross-sectional, nine longitudinal and six intervention) with overall low-medium quality were included. Different instruments were employed to assess posture (e.g. digital cameras), balance (balance, stepping platform) or gait (e.g. Six-Minute-Walking Test, instrumented walkways). Results suggest that depression in adults is associated with significant impairments of posture, balance and gait. Motor abnormalities among depressed older adults may depend on the interplay of physical diseases, cognitive impairment and mood. Very few intervention studies measured motor symptoms as outcome. Available evidence suggests, however, that antidepressant drugs and physical exercise may be beneficial for motor abnormalities. Despite the lack of high-quality studies, instrumental assessments confirm the presence and importance of motor abnormalities in depression, with potential age-related differences in their pathophysiology.
KW - Agitation
KW - Depression
KW - Gait
KW - Postural stability
KW - Psychomotor retardation
KW - Slowing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075345796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85075345796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112687
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112687
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31740213
AN - SCOPUS:85075345796
VL - 284
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
SN - 0165-1781
M1 - 112687
ER -