Description (reporting the actual words used in written letters) of the neuropsychological and psychopathological modifications produced by dopaminergic treatment in a young patient with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

Although it is an undeniable fact that dopaminergic therapy has greatly improved the quality of life and prognosis of patients with Parkinson's disease, various and serious adverse events correlated to dopaminergic drugs are not uncommon. Among these, those of neuropsychological and psychopathological nature are of particular importance, being capable of causing an upheaval in the basic personality of the patient. To this regard, the authors report the actual words of a patient himself that are far more convincing that any considerations we may express. In our opinion, the overwhelming impact of dopaminergic treatment on the psychopathological and neuropsychological equilibrium of all parkinsonian patients should unfailingly be carefully evaluated and pondered, particularly in the early onset forms of the disease.

• Authors: Antonino Cannas, Paolo Solla, Gianluca Floris, Paolo Tacconi, Patrizia Fulgheri, Socrate Congia, Andrea Spissu
• Journal: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 138-40 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0278-5846 [Print] England
• PMID: 16033704 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Dopamine Agents (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Neuropsychological Tests (statistics & numerical data)
• Neuropsychology
• Parkinson Disease (drug therapy, psychology)
• Psychopathology