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Dear Ron, Whereas I agree with your compassionate and thoughtful response to Sonia's post I must take exeption with one aspect. Admittedly, any chronic condition that compromises one's autonomy could be a source for sadness,grief and sense of helplessness. I agree with you that recognizing it, and supporting the loved one in this struggle is better than any chemical. However, as a neuropsychiatrist working with Parkinson's disease I must emphasize that the condition harbors (not in every patient ) a depressive disorder that is inherent to it much like muscle stiffness is. In that case, there is a need for medication because it can cause enormous suffering (not to mention loss of apetite, lethargy, loss of sleep etc.) Those conditions are in fact underdiagnosed and under rather than over treated. I think that taking the atitude that the depression is "normal" and the patient needs support and not medication is not always justified. In some instances the patient needs support AND medication. Ironically, after many years I have treated patients my own father was diagnosed with Parkinson's. So now I am not just a doctor but also a family member. I too, suffer with my father whom I love and admire as he is struggling with his condition rather than fully enjoying his retirement he had so happily planned. He is not depressed and does not need antidepressant. But should he become depressed I certainly hope his doctor wo uld recognize it and give him the appropriate treatment. Yours, Rami Kaminski Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York