Another selection from the 100 maxims in the John G.Nutt book,
PARKINSON'S DISEASE, previously cited which supports what we have
been saying here on the network --especially on the importance of
exercise -- is the following direct quotation (p.102):
"DO NOT BE SEDUCED BY DRUG THERAPY TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER
THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
The pharmacological treatment of parkinsonism is rational and
effective, characteristics that differentiate the pharmocotherapy
of parkinsonism from many other neurologic conditions. It is
therefore understandable that the physician equates therapy of
parkinsonism with drug therapy and tries to address all
complaints with medication. However, some problems are not drug
responsive and furthermore, continuing increases in doses or
addition of other medications to cope with increasing or new
symptoms invariably leads to adverse effects in the elderly.
Dependence upon drug therapy to the exclusion of other approaches
has another unwanted psychological effect; it places total
control and responsibility for treatment on the physician's
shoulders and fosters dependency in the patient. Employing
non-pharmacological therapies allows patients to have greater
participation in their care and a greater feeling of control over
their medical destiny.
Non-pharmacological management requires a different mind-set.
The health care provider must assess exactly what is the
patient's difficulty, not just make a diagnosis or identify a
general problem. Then, a strategy to cope with the specific
difficulty must be developed, often requiring innovation which is
not guided by much rigorous literature. The care provider must
become familiar with community resources to be effective in
non-pharmacological management. These include: physical therapy,
occupational therapy, social workers, psychologists, support
groups, respite care and local and national lay organizations."
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Sid Roberts [log in to unmask] |
| Youngstown State History Department |
| University Youngstown, OH 44555 |
+--------------------------------------------------+
