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

Introduction

The 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 methods

We 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.

Results

A 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.

Conclusion

Our 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.