Depresión asociada a la degeneración cerebelosa en adolescentes

Abstract

Cerebellar degeneration has been considered for centuries as a motor disorder of unknown cause where the neurons of the cerebellum tend to slowly and progressively degenerate until they disappear. Since the disease is not curable, adolescents with this condition are a vulnerable group to depression. This research aims to determine whether depression is a factor associated with cerebellar degeneration in adolescents and to indicate how this pathology influences their lifestyle. Depression was the most common negative symptom in adolescents diagnosed with Cerebellar Degeneration. This symptom is closely associated with the onset of cerebellar affective-cognitive syndrome and can manifest at any age. Psycho-emotional disorders such as depression may occur before or after motor symptoms. Nowadays, it is unknown which cerebellar lobe tends to atrophy first; some authors suggest that the area responsible for the neuropsychiatric symptoms is the alteration of the cerebellar vermis, while others indicate that the posterior cerebellum is the initially affected area. Family interaction quality is vital during the treatment and evolution of the disease due to the learning capacity acquired by the adolescent patient to prevent or overcome emotional conflicts. Finally, the palliative treatment of these patients should not only be aimed at relieving motor symptoms but also at the neuropsychiatric impact they generate upon diagnosis.