Psychosis, Hallucinations & Delusions; Bombshell for Parkinson's Caregivers.

Join Dave Nassaney, The Caregiver's Caregiver, and Adrienne Gruberg, The Caregiver Space, as they interview Diane Sagen, caregiver to her husband with Parkinson's Psychosis, & her neurologist from University of California at Irvine,Dr Neal Hermanowicz, concerning this rarely known information about the shocking symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis, and the latest medications to control it.

Diane's spouse has Parkinson's disease psychosis. There is HUGE caregiver burden with this disorder because treating it is very challenging. In fact, there is no approved treatment for the psychosis (although one is under review by the FDA right now). In lieu of an approved treatment, patients might be prescribed an atypical antipsychotic, but these aren't proven to work well and they have black box warnings.

So as a result, loved ones work very hard to manage their loved ones  visions and false beliefs. Can you imagine being married for 50 years and then having your wife accuse you of adultery or theft? Those kind of delusions are very stressful for the caregiver. Psychosis leads to more nursing home placement and, as a result, increased morbidity and mortality.

Our message is that we want people to tell their doctor about the onset of Parkinson's psychosis. Studies tell us that less than 20% of patients and caregivers ever report symptoms. Maybe that is because there is a stigma against psychosis or it may be that these kind of symptoms are such that people do not realize they are related to the Parkinson's disease, itself.