Impulse control disorders in patients with young-onset Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional study seeking associated factors

IntroductionThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the frequency and factors associated with impulse control disorder (ICD) symptoms, including personality characteristics, in Czech young-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.Subjects and methodsWe examined 49 young-onset PD patients and 38 age-matched control subjects. ICD symptoms were identified using the South Oaks Gambling Screen and modified Minnesota Impulse Disorders Interview.ResultsA higher prevalence of pathological gambling and hypersexuality was found in PD patients than in control subjects. A higher frequency of pathological gambling in our sample of young-onset PD patients was found in patients using dopamine agonists and in patients with dyskinesias lasting 5 or more years. The frequency of any ICD symptom was associated with coffee consumption, higher reported anxiety, and somatization. ICD symptoms were also related to personality characteristics in PD patients; specifically, patients who manifested any ICD symptom scored significantly higher on Self-assertive/Antisocial and Reserved/Schizoid personality styles and pathological gambling was associated with lower reported Conscientiousness.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that ICD presents a real problem in young-onset PD patients. Knowledge about the factors associated with ICD symptoms might be helpful in the proactive search for these pathological behaviours in this specific subgroup of PD patients.