Hallucinations and Delusions

Published by Alzheimer's Association

This web page has two sections, one on understanding hallucinations and the other on coping strategies. Linked pages explain brain function and changes, non-drug approaches to behavior management and medications for behavioral symptoms.

Published by Parkinson Canada, 2024

This four-page fact sheet defines hallucinations and delusions and outlines when and how your medical team can help. It also includes strategies for how caregivers should respond to hallucinations and delusions.

Published by Parkinson's UK, 2024

This 13-page information sheet has a very good description of how hallucinations and delusions can manifest, as well as possible causes and what can exacerbate them, ways to manage them at home and with the help of your medical team, and caregiver tips.

Published by Parkinson's Foundation, 2018

This 2018 blog post is based on the latest research and a Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefing about hallucinations and delusions in Parkinson’s. After an explanation of what hallucinations and delusions are, there are tips for what to do, how to minimize these behaviors through lifestyle changes, and medication treatment options.

Published by Parkinson's Foundation

This webpage provides information on the differences between hallucinations, delusions, delirium, and dementia. It addresses risk factors, causes and treatment options for each as well as some coping strategies for family members and care partners when dealing with one or more disorder. Also included is a four-minute video, which is a firsthand account by a caregiver about her husband's development of hallucinations and how the two of them manage day-to-day.

By Maria De León, MD. Published by defeatparkinsons.com, February 7, 2017

Psychosis causes high levels of caregiver burden and stress. It leads to significant disability and poor quality of life. The risk of developing psychosis increases with disease duration. Dr. De León lists many causes of underlying neuropsychiatric disturbances possible in PD, and causes of psychosis common to the elderly.

By Linda Minton, Kate Perepezko, and Gregory Pontone, MD. Published by Parkinson's Foundation, 2022

This 40-page booklet is a thorough guide to all aspects of Parkinson’s psychosis, including symptoms, causes, treatment options, coping strategies for both the family and person experiencing the psychosis, and a chapter on tips for caregivers.

By PMD Alliance, June 17, 2020

In this 48-minute webinar, geriatric psychiatrist Daniel Weintraub, MD, provides an overview of the neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms that can occur in PD, as well as how those symptoms can be managed.

Webinar Notes on the Stanford PD Community Blog

By Houston Area Parkinson Society, November 14, 2020

In this one-hour talk by neurologist Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD, about two hours into the Thrive: HAPS 2020 Caregiver Conference, she delves into what REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is and is not, and the distinctions between hallucinations, delusions, and delirium. Management options for RBD and hallucinations are included.

Webinar Notes on the Stanford PD Community Blog.

By Davis Phinney Foundation, October 24, 2022

In this 53-minute webinar, neuro-psychiatrist Dylan Wint, MD, shares his expertise on Parkinson's disease psychosis, hallucinations and delusions, including how to help someone experiencing a delusion or hallucination, when to seek help, simple versus complex hallucinations, whether there is a connection between REM Sleep Disorder and hallucinations, treatment options, and more.

By Parkinson Canada, January 15, 2025

In this one-hour webinar, geriatrician Alison Dixon, MD, discusses causes, triggers and management & communication strategies for hallucinations and delusions, as well as how Parkinson's psychosis impacts the mental health of both the person with Parkinson's and their care partner. Listeners also hear from a woman who shares the challenges of caring for two parents living with Parkinson's, including her mother's episodes of delusions, and the management strategies she uses to stay safe and connected as a family.

By Parkinson's Foundation, December 13, 2017

This 16-minute video is a series of interviews with Parkinson’s patients who experience hallucinations, interspersed with comments by movement disorder specialist Dr. Joseph Friedman about the causes of hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease, communicating with your neurologist, and medication adjustments to diminish hallucinations.