J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1996; 8:1-9
Copyright © 1996 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Clozapine as a treatment for psychosis in Parkinson's disease: a review
WS Musser and M Akil
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Psychotic symptoms such as visual hallucinations and delusions are a
relatively common clinical problem in patients with Parkinson's disease
(PD). A dilemma arises in the treatment of psychosis in these patients
because traditional antipsychotics are dopaminergic antagonists that worsen
the motor symptoms of PD. Clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been
successfully used in the treatment of psychosis in PD patients. The use of
clozapine in these patients differs significantly, however, from its use in
young, relatively healthy, treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients in
the dosage required, side effects, and other aspects of management.
