Hours of learning: 2

Publication date: 2013

Aim
This course has been written for healthcare professionals working in primary care, who prescribe or dispense medicines for patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This publication seeks to provide a broad overview of the management of PD. Treatment of PD is under the care of a specialist. However, due to the complexity of the disease, primary care healthcare professionals will encounter many aspects of the disease. Attention is also drawn to non-motor symptoms. Three of the most common non-motor symptoms (depression, dementia and psychosis) present a major challenge for the management of PD and therefore are discussed in detail in designated sections.

Intended learning outcomes
Having completing this course you should be able to:

• Recognise the features of PD to ensure rapid referral to a specialist
• Understand how the condition is treated to facilitate shared care between primary and secondary care
• Discuss the management of motor symptoms in early and advanced stages of the disease
• Recognise the non-motor symptoms of PD to ensure prompt and effective management.