Jornal de Citologia e Histologia

Treatment of Psychotic Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Felix-Martin Werner and Rafael Coveñas

The treatment of Parkinson’s disease with l-dopa and a decarboxylase inhibitor, with dopamine agonists or with NMDA antagonists can cause psychotic symptoms. Neural networks are described in the mesolimbic system in order to explain this adverse effect. The psychotic symptoms are treated with second-generation antipsychotic drugs which do not worsen movement disturbances. Among these drugs, the administration of clozapine and quetiapine is recommended to treat psychotic symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.