[Diagnosis and course (under treatment) of Parkinson disease]

Diagnosis of Parkinsonism is made in two steps: 1. identification of the Parkinson syndrome, a combination of rest tremor, hypertonia, akinesia and postural disturbances; 2. then essentially on the basis of clinical observations, relation to Parkinson's disease. The main risks during the course with L-dopa treatment are, on the one hand, the appearance of akinetic changes and movement disorders, more common in the younger affected patients, and on the other hand, disorders that do not respond to L-dopa, especially postural and cognitive, that are favoured by old age. Anxiety, depression pain, autonomic disorders and insomnia increase the repercussions of the disease and complicate its management.