Impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND

Dopamine agonists have been used as first-line treatments for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during its early stage, and several impulse control disorder (ICD) behaviors have been reported to be associated with their use.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between ICD behaviors and the use of agonists in Chinese patients with PD and associated risk factors.

METHODS

Self-report screening questionnaires were mailed to 400 PD patients treated with anti-parkinsonian drugs in our clinical database and their spouses (served as control group). Those who screened positive for ICD behaviors by questionnaire were further interviewed over the telephone by a movement disorder specialist to confirm the diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 11 (3.53%) patients were diagnosed with ICD behaviors as follows: lifetime pathological gambling (1, 0.32%); subclinical or clinical hypersexuality (6, 1.92%); binge eating (1, 0.32%); dopamine dysregulation syndrome (2, 0.64%); and compulsive internet browsing (1, 0.32%). ICD behaviors were associated with an increased mean levodopa equivalent daily dosage and alcohol use (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively). Patients using dopamine agonists were significantly (p=0.003) more likely to be diagnosed with an ICD (6.3%) as compared to those who were not (0.6%).

CONCLUSION

PD patients who took dopamine agonists were more likely to report ICD behaviors in Chinese PD.