Psychosis in Parkinson's Disease is the single most important risk factor for nursing home admission and is associated with increased mortality. In most cases it is a complication of dopamine therapy.
Managing psychosis is one of the most challenging aspects of caring for patients with Parkinson's disease. Until recently drug treatment was limited to the use of typical antipsychotics, which frequently cause worsening of motor function because of the extrapyramidal side-effects associated with these drugs. Except for clozapine, the reported data on treating this disorder with atypical antipsychotics are also disappointing. Unlike risperidone and olanzapine, clozapine has been shown to improve psychotic symptoms and parkinsonism and is the only drug which approved for the treatment of the Parkinson's psychosis in the European Union.
During the presentation, the effects of various antipsychotics in patients with Parkinson's disease will be discussed.
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