Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD) History

Below is a template of questions to ask during the history portion of a patient interview in the initial consultation or subsequent followup notes. The template can be carried forward in all future notes.

General Characteristics:

  • Time of Onset: Age of onset

  • Initial symptoms (laterality): Tremor, dystonia, gait disturbance, falls, orthostatic hypotension, vision changes

  • Prodromal symptoms: Constipation, anosmia/hyposmia, REM sleep behavior disorder, etc

  • Motor Symptoms: Tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, dyskinesias, myoclonus, falls, postural instability, freezing

  • Non-motor symptoms: Constipation, cognitive changes, depression/anxiety, hallucinations, dysphagia, speech abnormalities, urinary retention/urgency, hyper/hypohydrosis, sialorrhea, vision changes, sexual dysfunction, pain

  • Progression of the disease: Worsening or new symptoms over time

  • Trial of levodopa: Helpful or unhelpful for management of symptoms

  • Family history of Parkinsonism: PD, multiple systems atrophy (MSA), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), etc

Management:

  • Prior medications: Current medications

  • Deep Brain Stimulation: If present, time of surgery and efficacy

  • Dopamine side effects: hallucinations, impulse control disorder, sleep attacks, obsessive/compulsive behaviors, worsening orthostatic hypotension

  • Response to medication:

    • Medication onset: How many minutes after starting medication does the patient notice improvement in symptoms

    • Duration of effect: In hours

    • Wearing off of medication: If yes, how much time prior to next dose

    • Dyskinesias:

    • Amount of time during the day with poor motor function (%): Off times and/or dyskinesias

  • Therapy:

    • Last physical therapy visit:

    • Last occupational therapy visit:

    • Last speech pathology visit:

    • Exercise regimen: