Psychiatric symptoms in Parkinsonism.

When James Parkinson described the syndrome since named after him he specifically excluded intellectual changes from his description (Parkinson, 1817). Since then many different types of mental symptoms have been described in patients with Parkinsonism (Mjbnes, 1949; Pollack and Horna-brook, 1966). It has become generally accepted that Parkinsonism is a syndrome which can be caused by a variety of pathological processes, although there is some disagreement as to whether these should be regarded as a sole and sufficient cause in the absence of genetic or constitutional factors (Denny-Brown, 1954; Walshe, 1955). The physical disabilities are very similar whatever the pathological cause but with considerable variation in severity and rapidity of progression. The present study was designed to allow comparison of the mental changes associated with Parkinsonism of different aetiological types to be made. A retrospective study was made of 89 patients with Parkinsonism who had been admitted to the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals suffering from a mental illness. Patients were included only if they showed akinesia, tremor, and rigidity, less certain cases being excluded. Personal details, mental and physical symptoms and signs were noted.