Mental
Changes
While Parkinson's disease
essentially affects the aptitude to move about and do work, in some patients,
mental changes do start to appear. These mental changes are often proportionate
to the amount of medication being taken as well as the duration of the
treatment.
Loss of memory is one mental
symptom that can either be drug induced or it can be the result of another
disorder running corresponding with the Parkinson's disease. The disease does
not cause dementia in itself. Yet dementia can be caused due to drugs and dosage
needed to treat Parkinson’s. Reduction in dosage is one advised cure for
dementia. In such a case, the patient may have to accept increased rigidity.
2. Hallucinations
Some patients put on prolonged
treatment with some medications of
Parkinson’s, might develop hallucinations. Those individuals may see long
deceased relatives. They may also start questioning the fidelity of their
partners. Although such visions are harmless, the patient may feel anxious. To
treat hallucination, the doctor can reduce the dosage of treatment drugs.
When a patient is uncertain of the
time, place or his/her identity, they are termed as confused. Although
Parkinson's is hardly the cause of confusion, the treatment with anti-Parkinson medication can be the chief cause. Positive home care is advised in such a
case. A calm environment should be provided to reduce all forms of stress.
Behavioural Changes
1. Depression
About half the patients with
Parkinson's show signs of depression. Typically, it is mild to moderate in
strength, but about 5 to 10 percent of the cases may be a severe form of
depression. Research shows that despair in patients occurs partially from neurochemical
changes in the brain. This is during the process of the disease.
To rightly identify this mood
chaos, doctors look for individual clues such as continued feelings of sadness,
insignificance, guilt, or bad temper. This mood can be cured with psychotherapy
and drugs. In worse cases,
electroconvulsive therapy may be essential.
2. Compulsive behaviour
Employment of Parkinson's drugs,
chiefly dopamine agonists, has on instance led to uncontrollable behaviour such
as gambling, shopping, or even compulsive repetition of certain traits such as
gathering or adding particular objects. The solution again is to reduce or
change medication.
3. Anxiety
Patients with the disease may often
undergo nervousness when their medication drugs start wearing off. They start
to fear that the subsequent dose will not be able to control their indications.
They may even start to fear that they will be abandoned in public, powerless to
move well. Intense anxiety can produce frightening panic attacks that may leave
the patient unable feeling as if they are having a heart attack.
Care from family and friends is the
best solution to support the patients during these situations. Don’t ignore any
of the above conditions and consult your doctor to get support on the
management of these situations.
