Low frequency of bipolar disorder, dopamine dysregulation syndrome, and punding in Brazilian patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency of bipolar disorder, dopamine dysregulation syndrome and punding in Parkinson's disease patients from a Brazilian movement disorders clinic.

METHOD: One hundred patients underwent a comprehensive psychiatric examination composed of MINI-plus and specific questionnaires to investigate dopamine dysregulation syndrome and punding.

RESULTS

We identified, respectively, one and five Parkinson's disease patients with bipolar disorder type I and type II. All manic/hypomanic episodes occurred before Parkinson's disease onset. No patient was identified with dopamine dysregulation syndrome or punding.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of manic/hypomanic episodes seems to decrease with Parkinson's disease onset, and local environmental factors (e.g. drug availability) may be responsible for the low frequency of dopamine dysregulation syndrome and punding in Brazilian Parkinson's disease patients.