OBJECTIVE: To identify motor and non-motor symptoms independently associated with distress in Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHOD: Clinical and patient-reported data from 118 people with PD (mean age and PD-duration, 64 and 8 years) were analyzed regarding associations with patient-reported distress using multiple regressions (controlling for age).

RESULTS: Non-motor symptoms independently associated with distress were pain, fatigue, sleep, depression and anxiety (R(2), 0.81). The only significant motor aspect was mobility (R(2), 0.31). When considering both motor and non-motor symptoms, fatigue, pain, depression and sleep showed independent associations with distress (R(2), 0.76).

CONCLUSION: Distress in PD is primarily associated with non-motor features.