Shared from myparkinsonsteam.com.
What is real, and how can you be sure? For someone living with Parkinson’s, it can be difficult to know at times. “In my peripheral vision, I see cats curled up and sleeping all around the house,” shared one member of MyParkinsonsTeam. Another member wrote, “My husband from time to time suffers the delusion that we’re living in a hotel, and he wants to go home. Nothing I say changes his mind.”
While Parkinson’s disease is well known for causing motor symptoms, between 20 percent and 40 percent of individuals with the condition report hallucinations (sensing something that isn’t there) and delusions (persistent, illogical thoughts not based in reality), two symptoms of Parkinson’s disease psychosis.
Identifying hallucinations and delusions can sometimes be challenging for those experiencing them — and for their caregivers and loved ones. Understanding how hallucinations and delusions manifest and how to tell them apart can help people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones better recognize them and talk to their doctors about ways they can be managed.
Keep reading for tips on how to identify hallucinations and delusions that may occur with Parkinson’s.
