Personality and quality-of-life improvement after apomorphine infusion in Parkinson's disease

People with Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations can be treated by continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI) to reduce their symptoms. Nonetheless, factors are lacking to predict patients' quality-of-life amelioration after CSAI. This pilot study aimed to evaluate associations between personality dimensions and quality-of-life improvement after 6 months of CSAI. Thirty-nine people with Parkinson's disease awaiting CSAI were included. Linear regression models between 'Temperament and Character Inventory' personality dimensions at baseline and percentage of change in Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 scores after 6 months of CSAI were realized (n = 35). The Temperament and Character Inventory was also compared between patients awaiting CSAI and patients awaiting deep brain stimulation of the sub-thalamic nucleus (n = 39 from the PREDI-STIM study). Higher reward dependence scores were associated with a better quality-of-life outcome after 6 months of CSAI, while self-directedness scores were associated with a better quality of life before CSAI (as opposed to harm avoidance, reward dependence and self-transcendence scores associated with a worse quality of life). Moreover, people with Parkinson's disease awaiting deep brain stimulation of the sub-thalamic nucleus had similar Temperament and Character Inventory dimensions compared to patients awaiting CSAI. People with Parkinson's disease with higher reward dependence scores at baseline had the best quality-of-life improvement after 6 months of CSAI. This finding could be used to better prepare and accompany people with Parkinson's disease during CSAI establishment. Moreover, this result could serve as an orientation factor to second-line treatments.