Addiction in Parkinson's disease: impact of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation.
In Parkinson's disease, dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) is characterized by severe dopamine addiction and behavioral disorders such as manic psychosis, hypersexuality, pathological gambling, and mood swings. Here, we describe the case of 2 young parkinsonian patients suffering from disabling motor fluctuations and dyskinesia associated with severe DDS. In addition to alleviating the motor disability in both patients, subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation greatly reduced the behavioral disorders as well as completely abolished the addiction to dopaminergic treatment. Dopaminergic addiction in patients with Parkinson's disease, therefore, does not constitute an obstacle to high-frequency STN stimulation, and this treatment may even cure the addiction.
Witjas
Tatiana
T
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Timone, Marseille, France. twitjas@yahoo.com
Baunez
Christelle
C
Henry
Jean Marc
JM
Delfini
Marie
M
Regis
Jean
J
Cherif
André Ali
AA
Peragut
Jean Claude
JC
Azulay
Jean Philippe
JP
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects*