• Lewis Kass-Iliyya, Christopher Kobylecki, Kathryn R McDonald, Alexander Gerhard, and Monty A Silverdale.
• Department of Neurology, Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Stott Lane, M6 8HD, Salford, U.K ; Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester Manchester, U.K.
• Brain Behav. 2015 May 1; 5 (5): e00320.

BackgroundPain is a common nonmotor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD). The pathophysiology of pain in PD is not well understood. Pain characteristics have rarely been studied in atypical parkinsonian disorders such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).Aim Of The StudyWe aimed to evaluate pain intensity, location, and associated symptoms in atypical parkinsonian disorders compared to PD.MethodsTwenty-one patients with MSA, 16 patients with PSP, and 65 patients with PD were screened for pain using question 1.9 of the MDS-UPDRS. Pain intensity was quantified using the short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ). Pain locations were documented. Motor disability was measured using UPDRS-III. Affective symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).ResultsPain was significantly more common and more severe in PD and MSA compared to PSP (P < 0.01). Pain locations were similar with limb pain being the most common followed by neck and back pain. Pain intensity correlated with HADS scores but not motor severity.ConclusionsPain is more common and more intense in PD and MSA than PSP. Differences in distribution of neurodegenerative pathologies may underlie these differential pain profiles.

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