Skip to content

Parkinson's Disease Health Center

Select An Article

Parkinson's Disease and Mental Health

Font Size

Certain mental health problems, like depression and disturbances -- such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia -- are possible complications of Parkinson's disease and/or its treatment. But, for most people with Parkinson's disease, depression and mental disturbances can be controlled.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The term "mood" refers to an emotional state that affects how a person thinks or acts. With depression, a person experiences great sadness. Serotonin, a chemical in the brain, has been associated with depression.

Depression is common in patients with Parkinson's disease. Often, the depression begins years before any of the other symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear.

What Are the Signs of Depression?

Depression can actually increase the physical effects of Parkinson's disease and possibly cause a progression of the disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms for longer than two weeks at a time, you should contact your doctor.

  • Depressed mood
  • An inability to find pleasure in things that were once pleasurable
  • Sleep disturbances (inability to sleep or sleeping excessively)
  • Change in appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Altered level of activity
  • Difficulty with concentration
  • Low self-esteem
  • Thoughts of death

How Is Depression in Parkinson's Disease Treated?

In Parkinson's disease, depression may be treated with psychological therapy, as well as with medications. People seem to do better when they receive both psychological and drug treatments.

There are many antidepressant medications available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of antidepressant for patients with Parkinson's disease depends on their overall condition and specific needs. Most people with Parkinson's disease should not take Ascendin (amoxipine) because this medication could temporarily worsen the Parkinson's disease symptoms.

Psychological therapy can help a patient with Parkinson's disease re-establish a sense of self-worth in the face of declining functional abilities. It also can help the person maintain good relationships with caregivers and family members, despite increasing dependency.

What Other Mental Health Issues Are Associated With Parkinson's Disease?

Hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions are all possible side effects of Parkinson's disease treatments. A hallucination occurs when you think something is present when it isn't. For example, you may hear a voice but no one is there. An example of paranoia is when you think someone is following you when they are not. Delusion is when you are convinced something is true, despite clear evidence proving that it is not.

Next Article:

Today on WebMD

Parkinsons disease illustration
Causes, symptoms, and treatments.
hands on walker
How does the disease progress?
man with serious expression
8 common questions and answers.
intelligence quotient illustration
What are the advantages of DBS?
Parkinsons Disease Medications
Questions Doctor Parkinsons
Eating Right
Parkinsons Exercise
daughter consoling depressed mother
senior man's hands
Parkinsons Daily

WebMD Special Sections