An 81-year-old person with a long history of Parkinson’s disease ‘sees’ the image of his daughter’s face all over. He sees it being torn to pieces, and hears voices, causing him distress. Like him, a 62-year-old woman ‘sees’ police going through her house, and has attempted to leave the house every time she hears a siren.
Psychosis in Parkinson’s disease is a challenge, but it can be treated. What is more important is that the psychotic symptoms can be prevented. Being aware and alert to the emergence of symptoms will help, Sridhar Vaitheswaran, consultant psychiatrist, Schizophrenia Research Foundation, said.
Delivering the T.R.L. Narasimhan Annual Memorial Lecture organised by Parivarthan for Parkinson’s Foundation, a NGO, on Friday, he said, at least 50% to 70% persons with Parkinson’s will have psychotic symptoms. Hallucinations and delusions are some of the symptoms. “Hallucinations is the disorder of perceptions involving any of the sensory organs. The early symptoms include a false sense of presence, passage hallucinations, and as the condition progresses, one can see well formed images. The experiences are so distressing that a person could becomes depressed,” he said. Delusions are the other major category of psychotic problems that are disorders of belief.
Co-existing physical health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis, environmental factors, social situation and response from others, and associated conditions such as sleep problems, depression and dementia could increase the risk of developing psychotic symptoms, he stated.
“Changes happen in our brain due to Parkinson’s disease and medicines used to treat the disease could cause psychosis,” he said. Taking care of simple things could help prevent psychosis, he said, adding: “Look at the environment and identify the triggers that make them distressful. Social engagement is a powerful way of dealing with psychotic symptoms, and correcting sensory impairment, taking care of physical health and careful dosing of medications will help.”
Caregivers, while understanding the complex nature of illness, should be alert for early warning signs. “Do not confront, do not dismiss their experience,” he added.
Sudha Meiyappan, founder of Parivarthan for Parkinson’s Foundation spoke .
The Hindu is the print media partner for the event.
