[Management of psychiatric complications of Parkinson's disease]

Abstract

Psychic disturbances are frequently present in patients with Parkinson's disease. They increase the disability and handicap, contribute to poor quality of life and often make the treatment of motor symptoms more difficult. Cognitive impairment may be restricted to subtle changes on neuropsychological testing, but the evolution towards a dementia appears more frequent than previously thought. Depression, anxiety and hallucinations are common but may be underestimated. During recent years, new psychiatric aspects have been described such as apathy and the so-called syndrome of dopamine dysregulation.