Hassan A, Wu SS, Schmidt P, Dai Y, Simuni T, Giladi N, Bloem BR, Malaty IA, Okun MS, Investigators N-Q (2013) High rates and the risk factors for emergency room visits and hospitalization in Parkinson’s disease. Grimbergen YA, Schrag A, Mazibrada G, Borm GF, Bloem BR (2013) Impact of falls and fear of falling on health-related quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol 248(11):950–958Ĭheng KY, Lin WC, Chang WN, Lin TK, Tsai NW, Huang CC, Wang HC, Huang YC, Chang HW, Lin YJ, Lee LH, Cheng BC, Kung CT, Chang YT, Su CM, Chiang YF, Su YJ, Lu CH (2014) Factors associated with fall-related fractures in Parkinson’s disease. doi: 10.1002/mds.21598īloem BR, Grimbergen YA, Cramer M, Willemsen M, Zwinderman AH (2001) Prospective assessment of falls in Parkinson’s disease. Pickering RM, Grimbergen YA, Rigney U, Ashburn A, Mazibrada G, Wood B, Gray P, Kerr G, Bloem BR (2007) A meta-analysis of six prospective studies of falling in Parkinson’s disease. Soh SE, Morris ME, McGinley JL (2011) Determinants of health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 79(4):368–376. Jankovic J (2008) Parkinson’s disease: clinical features and diagnosis. Other factors related to disease progression should be considered before claiming the use of psychotropic drugs as causative. The use of antidepressants was independently associated with falls in our PD cohort after considering for confounding variables such as age and measures of disease progression. When comparing to those not on psychotropics, subjects on antidepressants alone had a significantly higher mean frequency of falls score (1.07 vs. After adjusting for confounding variables, the regression analysis showed that use of antidepressants alone (adjusted OR 2.2, CI 95 % 1.3–3.8, p = 0.04), benzodiazepines alone (adjusted OR 2.0, CI 95 % 1.1–3.5, p = 0.02), and the combination of antidepressants with benzodiazepines (adjusted OR 4.1, CI 95 % 2.0–8.3, p < 0.0001) were independently associated with the presence of falls. Fallers were found to have clinical signs of a more advanced disease. Forty percent of the 647 subjects included had a fall in the previous year. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, cognitive enhancers/stimulants, and benzodiazepines were considered psychotropics. Frequency was scored from 0 (no falls) to 4 (falling daily). Subjects reported presence and frequency of falls in the prior year. A cross-sectional study from the NPF QII study UF site was conducted. We aimed to determine the association between psychotropic drug use and falls in a PD cohort. Risk factors for falls include the use of psychotropic drugs, which are used for the treatment of PD neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stay safe, practice social distancing and wash your hands!ĭr.Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients have an increased risk of falls resulting in important social and economical consequences. Our Extension Agents are available for consultation at your local Extension office, we encourage clientele to contact the office for an appointment by email, or by calling. Note: These guidelines change as events change due to the dynamic nature of the pandemic and its effects on the population. Our highest priority remains the health and safety of Extension clientele, faculty, staff, and volunteers as we continue to deliver the UF/IFAS Extension mission. The purpose of these guidelines are to provide and implement UF policy and procedure-based guidelines for resuming County Extension Office operations as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The County Extension offices in the Northwest Extension District have developed and are implementing county plans which include UF/IFAS Extension Guidelines for Safely Resuming County Extension Office Operations.