Global Symposium: Understanding Psychosis (2024)

In this webinar, Dr. Ross Dunne delved into the complexities of Parkinson’s disease, emphasizing its neuropsychiatric aspects, including hallucinations and the importance of caregiver understanding. As the clinical lead at the Brain Health Manchester Clinic and a later-life psychiatrist with nine years of experience, Dr. Dunne brought valuable insights from his involvement in groundbreaking dementia research and clinical trials.

He highlighted that approximately 50-80% of Parkinson’s patients experienced visual hallucinations, underscoring the necessity for clinicians to address this issue openly. Dr. Dunne advocated for non-pharmacological interventions, stressing that understanding patients’ lived experiences could alleviate distress and enhance caregiver empathy.

He also explored the overlap between Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s pathologies, emphasizing that ongoing research could lead to more effective treatment strategies. Through adjustments in environmental factors, such as improved lighting, Dr. Dunne suggested that caregivers could significantly reduce visual disturbances for patients, advocating for a cautious approach to medication to prevent exacerbating hallucinations or cognitive decline.

**Disclaimer: These sessions are designed to provide general education and are not intended for individual advice and/or clinical care. The information conveyed in this recording was accurate at the time of presentation.**