Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39

The Stigma score of 45 indicates moderate to severe perceived social stigma and embarrassment about Parkinson's in public; this patient likely restricts social activity and worries about others' perceptions. The Mobility score of 20 indicates minimal mobility impairment. This pattern—high stigma, low motor impairment—suggests a patient with relatively preserved physical function but significant psychological burden; psychological intervention, support groups, and stigma-reduction counseling may be more impactful than motor-focused therapy.

PDQ-8 (shorter, 8 items) is appropriate for routine clinic visits and population screening because it samples one item from each dimension and requires only 2-3 minutes. Use full PDQ-39 (39 items) for baseline comprehensive assessment, research studies, and clinical trials where detailed dimensional profiles guide intervention planning. PDQ-8 correlates highly with PDQ-39 overall (r > 0.9) but loses dimensional detail.

Correlation is typically weak to moderate (r = 0.20-0.50). A patient with high UPDRS motor score may report low PDQ-39 (good coping, optimized medication) or vice versa (low motor severity but high stigma and emotional distress). This independence justifies using both measures: UPDRS for objective motor assessment, PDQ-39 for subjective quality-of-life impact.

PDQ-39 is less reliable in advanced cognitive decline because valid self-report requires intact cognition. For patients with mild cognitive impairment, assess carefully and note limitations. For moderate-severe dementia, consider proxy-reported versions (not standard) or supplementary caregiver burden measures (e.g., Zarit Burden Interview). Combining PDQ-39 with cognitive screening (MoCA, MMSE) helps contextualize responses.