Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: Parkinson's disease psychosis

Many people are aware of Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremors, but few are aware that psychosis is also a symptom that may occur.

As Parkinson’s disease progresses, up to 40 percent of the approximately one million Americans living with the illness will develop symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms can be an indication of Parkinson’s disease psychosis, but unfortunately, many patients are not diagnosed.

Psychosis generally means “loss of reality testing.” Psychotic symptoms may be brought on by infections or by medications that treat Parkinson’s disease. It’s also possi...