Managing Psychosis in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Managing psychosis is one of the most difficult challenges in the care of patients with Parkinson's disease. This complication occurs in 10 to 15 percent of such patients and consists of visual hallucinations, the belief that one is being persecuted, fears of personal endangerment, or feelings of being followed, spied on, or threatened.1,2 Psychosis is a major source of distress for patients. It exacerbates the burdens of family members and is associated with earlier transfer to nursing homes and increased mortality.3 In managing psychosis in patients with Parkinson's disease, clinicians face a “motion–emotion” conundrum. The dopaminergic drugs that can . . .