MOOD RESPONSE TO LEVODOPA INFUSION IN EARLY PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Mood response to levodopa infusion was studied in 18 Parkinson's disea se (PD) patients during the first year of levodopa therapy before and after 2-hour (1.0 mg/kg/h) levodopa infusions at baseline and 6- and 1 2-month follow-up. Mood elevation was greatest after a 2-day levodopa holiday at the 6- and 12-month assessments. Age, sex, duration and sev erity of PD, and ongoing oral levodopa dose did not correlate with moo d response. Mood response in these patients differs from that seen in advanced patients, possibly because of sensitization to levodopa's moo d effects.