The human movement represents a fundamental connection between neurology and psychiatry. Movement disorders are common in psychiatry and share networks between the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. Bipolar Disorder (BD) is characterized by episodes of depression and mania without an apparent cause. Idiopathic Parkinsonism in bipolar patients includes motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Many bipolar patients exhibit facial inexpressiveness, action tremors, rigidity, and reduced arm swing while walking, which characterizes bilateral and symmetrical Parkinsonism.

To assess the occurrence of parkinsonism in individuals with BD.

A retrospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study (N = 85) involving patients aged 51 to 86 years (mean age: 64.8 years), conducted over 10 months. The study included both male and female patients diagnosed with BD and presenting signs of parkinsonism, followed at a neurodementia outpatient clinic in a university hospital (GO) and a private neuropsychiatry service. Patients underwent medical and neuropsychological assessments, including evaluations of mania, cognitive dysfunction, quality of life in PD, and apraxias. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics.

The highest prevalence of BD with parkinsonism was among women (73.4%); 53.8% of the sample exhibited some degree of dementia, either mild or moderate. Executive dysfunction was observed in 90% of patients, while 80% presented tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and apraxias. The prevalence of parkinsonism in women with BD suggests a genetic influence on motor and cognitive impairment, reinforcing the hypothesis of a neurodegenerative phenotype involving frontostriatal circuits. The high frequency of motor symptoms indicates an overlap with movement disorders, highlighting the importance of differential diagnosis.

This study provides a critical foundation for implementing rehabilitation strategies for patients with BD and signs of parkinsonism. The observed interrelation between psychiatric disorders and neurofunctional alterations underscores the need for integrated therapeutic approaches that address both psychiatric and motor aspects. The findings are crucial for guiding future research and clinical practices aimed at improving the quality of life and functionality of these patients.

Identifying the overlap between mood disorders and motor alterations reinforces the need for integrated therapeutic approaches, promoting a physiotherapeutic approach that considers both psychiatric and motor aspects.