Psychogeriatrics : the official journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society
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Observational Study
Observational study of quality of life of Parkinson's patients and their caregivers.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder that leads to a decrease in cognitive performance and affects patients' quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the QoL of PD patients and their caregivers in relation to each patient's cognitive impairment. ⋯ Our results confirm a relationship between PD patients QoL and the perceived burden of their caregivers. Indeed, patients' cognitive impairment strictly correlated to lower QoL scores in both patients and caregivers and is a strong predictor of caregiver stress and burden. These results emphasize the importance of implementing early interventions to prevent or ameliorate caregivers' burnout.
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Case Reports
Delirium associated with concomitant use of duloxetine and bupropion in an elderly patient.
Delirium is common in daily practice. Drug-induced delirium constitutes approximately one-third of all cases of delirium. In cases characterized by the limited efficacy of a single antidepressant, a combination of two antidepressants is required, which may induce a complex drug-drug interaction. ⋯ Duloxetine and bupropion are both cytochrome P450 2D6 inhibitors that may result in a higher level of hydroxybupropion. An increased level of hydroxybupropion may cause the elevation of dopamine and a risk of subsequent delirium. We should be aware of the risk of delirium induced by drug-drug interactions.