Psych MEQs / SAQs · Consultation-liaison psychiatry
PD psychosis, depression, and agonist-related ICD (MEQ)
FRANZCP-style MEQ on PD psychosis, dopamine-agonist ICD, depression, and joint neurology care.
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Target exams
Model answer
Reveal model answer
(i) Formulation and differentials. Leading cluster: PD psychosis (formed visual hallucinations, partial insight, chronic course fitting Ravina-type recurrent phenomena after PD onset) plus dopamine-agonist-related ICD (gambling, hypersexuality temporally linked to pramipexole titration) plus major depression with passive suicidal ideation and cognitive impairment (MoCA 22) raising PDD risk trajectory.[1][2] Differentials: delirium (less likely without acute medical markers but still consider); primary schizophrenia (atypical age/phenomenology); Charles Bonnet-like pure visual release if severe eye disease; DDS if there is compulsive extra DRT use and craving rather than only behavioural ICD at prescribed doses.[1][8]
(ii) Psychosis management. Joint neurology: stop/reduce amantadine early; plan pramipexole reduction (also treats ICD); optimise environment and sleep. Avoid haloperidol, high-potency typicals, and high-motor-risk SGAs (risperidone/olanzapine traps).[3] If psychosis remains after DRT simplification: clozapine start 6.25–12.5 mg oral nocte, slow titration, often under 50 mg/day, with mandatory FBC monitoring; or pimavanserin 34 mg oral daily where available (5-HT2A inverse agonist).[3][4] Quetiapine low night dose is pragmatic but weaker RCT support. Assess capacity and safety.[3]
(iii) ICD and depression. Reduce/stop pramipexole with neurology; financial and partner safeguards; document risk. Treat depression: offer CBT; pharmacologically, SAD-PD supports paroxetine or venlafaxine XR (start low, e.g. paroxetine 10 mg oral daily or venlafaxine XR 37.5 mg oral daily, titrate with review). Extreme caution with any MAO-B inhibitor regarding serotonin toxicity; monitor hyponatraemia, suicidality, motor change.[2][5][6]
(iv) Disposition and risk. Shared PD clinic + psychiatry follow-up; caregiver education; suicide safety plan; discuss that antipsychotics carry an observational mortality association — use lowest effective dose and non-drug measures first, without abandoning treatment of dangerous psychosis.[7] Driving/work per local law after psychosis and cognitive change.
Common errors
Common errors: prescribing haloperidol; increasing pramipexole; missing collateral for gambling; ignoring MAO-B–SSRI interaction; inventing Mental Health Act section numbers; calling all visual phenomena "just imagination."[1][2][3]
Examiner notes
High-scoring scripts name Ravina criteria, agonist→ICD, low-dose clozapine + FBC, pimavanserin 34 mg, SAD-PD, and joint neurology care.[1][2][3][4][5]
References
- [1]Ravina B, Marder K, Fernandez HH, et al. Diagnostic criteria for psychosis in Parkinson's disease: report of an NINDS, NIMH work group Mov Disord, 2007.PMID 17266092
- [2]Weintraub D, Koester J, Potenza MN, et al. Impulse control disorders in Parkinson disease: a cross-sectional study of 3090 patients Arch Neurol, 2010.PMID 20457959
- [3]Parkinson Study Group Low-dose clozapine for the treatment of drug-induced psychosis in Parkinson's disease N Engl J Med, 1999.PMID 10072410
- [4]Cummings J, Isaacson S, Mills R, et al. Pimavanserin for patients with Parkinson's disease psychosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial Lancet, 2014.PMID 24183563
- [5]Richard IH, McDermott MP, Kurlan R, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of antidepressants in Parkinson disease Neurology, 2012.PMID 22496199
- [6]Dobkin RD, Menza M, Allen LA, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease: a randomized, controlled trial Am J Psychiatry, 2011.PMID 21676990
- [7]Weintraub D, Chiang C, Kim HM, et al. Association of Antipsychotic Use With Mortality Risk in Patients With Parkinson Disease JAMA Neurol, 2016.PMID 26999262
- [8]Giovannoni G, O'Sullivan JD, Turner K, et al. Hedonistic homeostatic dysregulation in patients with Parkinson's disease on dopamine replacement therapies J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 2000.PMID 10727476