Hallucinations May Occur with Parkinson's Disease

In 2013, Dr. Hemanth Rao became the medical director of neurology at Carolina's ContinueCare in Charlotte, NC. In his role as the president and CEO of the Neurological Institute in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Hemanth Rao gained extensive clinical research experience in areas such as psychosis in Parkinson's patients.

Those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may experience well-known symptoms of major psychiatric illnesses referred to as psychosis; these symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.
Delusions are defined as any irrational and illogical ideas, including paranoia. Hallucinations refer to the sensation of something not there in reality. Patients cannot control these unintended symptoms, but can find help dealing with them from mental health professionals.

In order to treat psychotic symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease, medical professionals must first identify their source. Common reasons include delirium, dementia, and side effects from medication given to treat the disease. Medications for treating Parkinson's disease increase dopamine in the brain to counter the brain's loss or decreased functioning of dopamine-producing neurons. However, while increasing dopamine levels enhances motor function in the body, an excess of dopamine can also lead to psychotic symptoms.