Antiparkinsonian and antidepressant effects of high doses of bromocriptine. An independent comparison

Ten depressed parkinsonian patients were treated with high doses of bromocriptine (rang 85-220 mg/day). Changes in the parkinsonian and depressive symptomatologies were independently evaluated by a neurologist and a psychiatrist. Rating took place before treatment after wash-out and again 8 days later. Results show a significant mean improvement of both depressive and parkinsonian symptomatologies. However, there was no correlation between the two therapeutic effects in the 10 patients. Clinical and biological implications of these heterogeneous patterns are discussed.