Case Report

Elvis Is Back: Musical Hallucinations in a Parkinson Disease Patient

Authors: Manoj Mittal, MD, Louis T. Giron, Jr, MD

Abstract

Hallucinations are common among patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Hallucinations, typically transitory and occurring at night, are classically visual and occur in 30% of treated patients; auditory hallucinations are rare. A musical hallucination (MH) is a rare type of complex auditory hallucination reported in only six PD patients so far. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first reported case of a patient with Parkinson disease who experienced auditory and visual MH.


Key Points


* Late Parkinson disease (PD) can cause hallucinations.


* Dopaminergic agents are used commonly for PD treatment, and these agents can cause hallucinations.


* PD patients should be asked about any hallucinations, as it may increase the psychological burden for the patients and their caregivers.

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