Hallucinations, sleep fragmentation, and altered dream phenomena in Parkinson's disease

Mov Disord. 1999 Jan;14(1):117-21. doi: 10.1002/1531-8257(199901)14:1<117::aid-mds1019>3.0.co;2-0.

Abstract

In a series of consecutively randomized outpatients who had Parkinson's disease (PD), we examined the association of three behaviors: sleep fragmentation, altered dream phenomena, and hallucinations/illusions. Using a log-linear model methodology, we tested the independence of each behavior. Sixty-two percent of the subjects had sleep fragmentation, 48% had altered dream phenomena, and 26% had hallucinations/illusions. Eighty-two percent of the patients with hallucinations/illusions experienced some form of sleep disorder. The three phenomena were not independent. The interaction between sleep fragmentation and altered dream phenomena was strongly statistically significant. Likewise, a significant interaction existed between altered dream phenomena and hallucinations/illusions. No interaction occurred between sleep fragmentation and hallucinations/illusions. Sleep fragmentation, altered dream phenomena, and hallucinations/illusions in PD should be considered distinct but often overlapping behaviors. The close association between altered dream phenomena and hallucinations suggests that therapeutic interventions aimed at diminishing dream-related activities may have a specific positive impact on hallucinatory behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Delusions / diagnosis
  • Dreams*
  • Female
  • Hallucinations / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / diagnosis*