Clinical Issues in the Early Diagnosis of
Parkinson's Disease

Left to Right:
Kathleen M. Shannon, MD
William J. Weiner, MD, Chair
Shobha S. Rao, MD

Module 1: 57-year-old woman with right hand tremor

Module 2: 65-year-old woman with tremor in both hands

Module 3: 60-year-old woman with stiffness of left hand

Module 4: 75-year-old man with intermittent Tremor

Introduction

The clinical motor features of Parkinson's disease include resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability, which are easily identifiable. However, early Parkinson's disease can be particularly difficult to diagnose clinically because the symptoms and signs can be very subtle and approximately 5% to 10% of patients with Parkinson's disease are misdiagnosed. William Weiner, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Kathleen Shannon, MD, Rush Medical College and Shobha Roa, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, will present and discuss, from both the neurologist and family physician perspective, a series of cases studies to assist physicians in the identification of the early signs of Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism due to other conditions including drug related occurrences.

Intended Audience

This continuing medical education program is intended for primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals who manage patients with Parkinson's disease.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be better able to:

Diagnose Parkinson's disease in the primary care setting
Recognize variation in the cardinal signs and symptoms of early Parkinson's disease
Distinguish Parkinson's disease from other parkinsonian syndromes (e.g., PSP, medication-induced)

Information on CME credit

The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nonphysicians may receive a certificate of participation for completing this activity.

Instructions for CME credit

This online enduring material is presented as a video webcast with attendant slide presentation. To receive credit, please view all of the presentations of these CME activity and evaluate the content presented. Complete both the pre- and post-test and activity evaluation.

The estimated time to complete this activity, including pre-test, review of the materials, and self-assessment and evaluation is 1.0 hour.

Advisory Board

William J. Weiner, MD, Chair
Professor of Neurology
Chair, Department of Neurology
Director, Maryland Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Shobha S. Rao, MD
Assistant Professor
Family and Community Medicine
Departments of Geriatric and Family Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, TX

Kathleen M. Shannon, MD
Associate Professor, Neurological Sciences
Department of Neurology
Rush Movements Disorders Group
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
Rush Medical College
Chicago, IL

Oksana Suchowersky, MD, FRCPC, FCCMG
Professor and Head
Department of Medical Genetics
Director, Movement Disorders Program
University of Calgary
Calgary, AB, Canada

Editorial Board

R. Mark Evans, PhD
Director, Healthcare Education Products and Standards
American Medical Association
Chicago, IL

Kristi Eidsvoog, PhD
Content Manager
MedEd Architects, LLC
Chicago, IL

Patti Fitzgerald
Manager, Product Development, Healthcare Education Products and Standards
American Medical Association
Chicago, IL

Faculty

Shobha S. Rao, MD
Assistant Professor
Family and Community Medicine
Departments of Geriatric and Family Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, TX

Kathleen M. Shannon, MD
Associate Professor, Neurological Sciences
Department of Neurology
Rush Movements Disorders Group
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke???s Medical Center
Rush Medical College
Chicago, IL

William J. Weiner, MD, Chair
Professor of Neurology
Chair, Department of Neurology
Director, Maryland Parkinson???s Disease and Movement Disorder Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Disclosure Policy

In order to assure the highest quality of CME programming, and to comply with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, the AMA requires that all faculty and planning committee members disclose relevant financial relationships with any commercial or proprietary entity producing health care goods or services relevant to the content being presented. We therefore obtain a completed disclosure and attestation form to inform the participant of any pertinent relationships disclosed, provided here.

These materials have been peer-reviewed by the members of the CME Advisory Board and the AMA Editorial Boardto ensure the continued scientific accuracy and medical relevance of information presented and its independence from commercial bias. The AMA has control over all final content.

Dr. Rao: Nothing relevant to disclose

Dr. Shannon: Research Support, Kyowa, Schwarz, Teva, Schering/Titan; Consultant, Valeant, Prestwick

Dr. Suchowersky: Speaker's Bureau, Teva, Novartis; Advisory Board, Teva, Novartis

Dr. Weiner: Advisory Board, Novartis; Research Support, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Teva; Speaker's Bureau, Teva

Dr. Evans: Nothing relevant to disclose

Dr. Eidsvoog: Nothing relevant to disclose

Ms. Fitzgerald: Nothing relevant to disclose

Acknowledgement of Support

This CME offering is supported through an independent education grant from Teva Neuroscience and produced in accordance with the AMA Standards for Industry-Supported Multimedia Continuing Medical Education and Other Communications.