Year: 1972 Source: Southern Medical Journal, v.65, no.3, (March 1972), p.312, 324 SIEC No: 19841715

A case of suicide of a patient with Parkinson’s disease who had been treated with L-Dopa is reported. It is suggested that patients receiving L-Dopa should have careful base line evaluation of mental status and extreme caution should be used where there is preexisting psychiatric illness. Periodic reassessment of the mental state is in order during the course of treatment. Dramatic physical improvement may mask a life-threatening mental disturbance.