Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Treatment with antidepressants and lithium is associated with increased risk of treatment with antiparkinson drugs: a pharmacoepidemiological study.

Brandt-Christensen M, Kvist K, Nilsson FM, Andersen PK, Kessing LV

Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. mette.brandt@rh.dk

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk for persons treated with antidepressants or lithium of subsequent treatment with antiparkinson drugs (APD). METHODS: The Danish national prescription database supplied data on all persons who received antidepressants, lithium, or antidiabetics (first control group). A second control group was included comprising persons from the general population. Outcome was purchase of APD and the study period was 1995 to 1999. RESULTS: In total, 1 293 789 persons were included. The rate ratio of treatment with APD after treatment with antidepressants was 2.27 (95% CI 2.14 to 2.42) for men and 1.50 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.58) for women. Figures for lithium were almost identical. CONCLUSION: Persons treated with antidepressants or lithium are at increased risk of subsequently treatment with APD, showing an association between anxiety/affective disorder and Parkinson's disease.

Published 17 May 2006 in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 77(6): 781-3.
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