Javier Pagonabarraga

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in most neurological disorders and can have a major impact on the patient’s disability and quality of life. However, mostly due to the heterogeneity of symptoms and the complexity of the underlying comorbidities, depression can be difficult to diagnose, resulting in limited recognition and in undertreatment. The early detection and treatment of depression simultaneously with the neurological disorder is key to avoiding deterioration and further disability. Although the neurologist should be able to identify and treat depression initially, a neuropsychiatry team should be available for severe cases and those who are unresponsive to treatment. Neurologists should be also aware that in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, different depression symptoms could develop at different stages of the disease. The treatment options for depression in neurological diseases include drugs, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and somatic interventions, among others, but often, the evidence-based efficacy is limited and the results are highly variable. Here, we review recent research on the diagnosis and treatment of depression in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and strokes, with the aim of identifying common approaches and solutions for its initial management by the neurologist.

Background We describe our experience of using perampanel to treat essential tremor (ET) over 12 months. Methods We enrolled 50 ET patients in an open‐label trial. Perampanel was titrated to 4 mg/day as adjuvant therapy. The main outcome measures were baseline, +1, +3, +6, and + 12 month scores of the Tremor Clinical Rating Scale (TCRS) and the Glass scale (GS). Results Twenty patients withdrew because of adverse effects. At +1 month, 27 of 30 patients improved: 68% reduction in both TCRS 1 + 2 ( P < 0.001) and TCRS 3 ( P < 0.001); TCRS 4 + 1.8 and GS 1.1 point reduction. By +12 months non‐persistence of therapeutic effect occurred in 70% of patients: the mean reduction in TCRS 1 + 2 was 33% ( P = 0.03), TCRS 3 (0.04), TCRS 4 + 0.8, GS 0.2 points reduction. Conclusions We report important peramapanel acute tremorolytic effects, but poor tolerance to adverse effects and a non‐sustained therapeutic effect in most patients.