Compulsive behaviors in patients with Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Several impulse control disorders (ICDs) may develop in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to identify the frequency and phenomenology of ICDs in our PD population.


METHODS
Among 554 PD patients examined in a 3-year period, we identified 33 patients with ICDs. Disease duration, gender, and age-matched 65 PD patients without ICDs were selected as controls. We noted age-at-onset, duration, and severity of PD, dose and types of dopaminergic treatment, as well as presence of motor complications in both groups.


RESULTS
Of 554 patients, 33 (5.9%) had ICDs, of whom, 27 were men (81%), mean age-at onset of PD was 48 and disease duration 8 years. While all patients with ICDs were on dopamine agonist drugs (+/- an adjuvant), all but 2 of controls were on dopamine agonists. Punding was the most frequent behavioral problem (57%), 42% exhibited aggressive hypersexuality, 27% compulsive eating, 24% pathologic shopping, and 21% compulsive medication. Severity of PD, presence of l-Dopa-induced motor complications, l-Dopa equivalent doses of dopamine agonists administered were not statistically different between 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study performed in a tertiary clinic for movement disorders in Turkey, several ICDs occurred in a small group of PD patients, mostly in men with young-onset disease, similar to the previous reported series. However, in contrast to the Western series, the number of gamblers was quite low because gambling is illegal in our country. We did not find any association between ICDs and severity of PD as well as doses of dopaminergic agents.
Kenangil
Gülay
G
Department of Neurology, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ozekmekçi
Sibel
S
Sohtaoglu
Melis
M
Erginöz
Ethem
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004298:Dopamine