Association between the dose of dopaminergic medication and the behavioral disturbances in Parkinson disease

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2010 Mar;16(3):202-7. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.12.002. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

Abstract

Objectives: To survey the point prevalence of impulse control and repetitive behavior disorders (ICRBs) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and to determine the relationship between PD medication dose and the risk of ICRBs.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey was applied to consecutive patients with PD over a 3-month period. The presence of ICRBs was screened using a modified version of the Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview that comprised five ICRB modules: compulsive buying, gambling, sexual behavior, eating, and punding. Data regarding the patients' clinical features and concurrent anti-PD drugs were also collected during the interview. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of the daily doses of dopamine agonist and L-dopa for the development of an ICRB were calculated after adjustment for clinical variables.

Results: Among the 1167 patients recruited, 118 (10.1%) exhibited ICRBs. Punding was the most common ICRB (4.2%), followed by compulsive eating (3.4%), sexual behaviors (2.8%), buying (2.5%), and gambling (1.3%). Two or more ICRBs were present concomitantly in 34 of these 118 patients (28.8%). There were dose-response relationships between the dopamine agonist dose and the ORs for compulsive buying, gambling and sexual behaviors. On the other hand, the OR for punding was positively correlated with the dose of L-dopa. The OR for compulsive eating was not associated with the dose of dopamine agonist or L-dopa.

Conclusions: The dose of dopaminergic medication is significantly associated with the development of ICRB, except compulsive eating, in PD.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Behavioral Symptoms / etiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / etiology*
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / etiology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents