Age from 20 years onwards

This CKS topic is based on a guideline produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Parkinson's disease: national clinical guideline for diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care [National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, 2006].

This CKS topic covers the primary care management of suspected and confirmed Parkinson's disease. Where secondary care treatments are discussed, this is to provide a background to the drugs that GPs are asked to continue prescribing as well as other treatments that people with Parkinson's disease may ask about.

This CKS topic does not cover the management of other causes of tremor or parkinsonism, although it does cover how to differentiate Parkinson's disease from drug-induced parkinsonism and essential tremor.

There are separate CKS topics on conditions that people with Parkinson's disease frequently experience, including Back pain - low (without radiculopathy), Constipation, Depression, Erectile dysfunction, Falls - risk assessment, Incontinence - urinary, in women, Insomnia, Neck pain - cervical radiculopathy, Neuropathic pain - drug treatment and Sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy).

The target audience for this CKS topic is healthcare professionals working within the NHS in England, and providing first contact or primary health care. Patient information can be downloaded from the Parkinson's Disease Society website.