Examining causes and care of idiopathic parkinsonism.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Parkinson's Disease Society in Britain. This paper looks at the aetiology and treatment of idiopathic parkinsonism and, through discussion of the work of a movement disorder clinic in British Columbia, focuses on the unique contribution of nursing care to effective management of the condition. 'Idiopathic parkinsonism' is used to describe parkinsonism of unknown aetiology. This term is preferable to 'Parkinson's disease' before identification of the cause. This position is forcefully endorsed by patient groups who eschew the term 'disease'.