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Parkinson Depression Case Studies

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Elderly people with Parkinson's disease regularly experience depression which dramatically affects the quality of their life. Recognized as a secondary symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), depression is not uniformly diagnosed by healthcare professionals and many elders suffer untreated. Due to the nature of PD and depression, the elderly patient's limitations must be considered when deciding on treatment options. Some treatment options are: pharmacology, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Scientists are conducting clinical trials for new treatments options such as new medicines and neural stem cell transplantation. While not yet curable, scientists are striving to offer improved …show more content…

Initially, antidepressants are the favored treatment option for depression. Antidepressants such as Elavil and Pamelor may cause dizziness and accidental falls due to lowered blood pressure. These side effects can be avoided by using a newer antidepressant class, Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs can be used without increased risks to the elderly patient. Dr. Matthew Menza (2004) cautions, “If treatment is administered, remember the antidepressants generally take several weeks to lift symptoms of depression” (para.7). Not all elderly PD patients with depression will respond uniformly to medications. These medications may interact with other medicines the patient is taking, causing unfavorable side effects. The possible benefits need to be weighed against possible side effects to determine if this is a viable option of …show more content…

During each treatment, the patient is anesthetized and given electrical stimulus to induce a “seizure”. The proven results seem significant in combating depression in elderly patients. According to Sackeim et al. (2000), “Hamilton (21), in a naturalistic, open study, reported that a higher percentage of depressed patients became asymptomatic after ECT compared to a similar group who received TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants).” (para.10). Stek, Wurff, Hoogendijk, and Beekman (2003) disagree, “At present, therefore, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions on whether ECT is more effective than antidepressants, or on the safety or side effects of ECT in elderly people with depression” (para.1). Sackeim et al. (2000)

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