Pathologic gambling in patients with Parkinson's disease

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2001 May-Jun;24(3):170-2. doi: 10.1097/00002826-200105000-00009.

Abstract

Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently have depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We observed two patients who had episodes of pathologic gambling. At the same time, their Parkinson's disease deteriorated and they initiated self-medication with dopaminergic drugs. In both patients, signs were present of an addiction to dopaminergic medication. Pathologic gambling ceased in these patients after a few months. The significance of an insufficient dopaminergic reward system in patients with stereotypical addictive-like behavior (e.g., pathologic gambling) is discussed in this report. The most likely explanation for this newly recognized behavioral disorder in patients with Parkinson's disease is enhanced novelty seeking as a consequence of overstimulation of mesolimbic dopamine receptors resulting from addiction to dopaminergic drugs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Agonists / adverse effects*
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Exploratory Behavior
  • Female
  • Gambling / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / adverse effects*
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology*

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Levodopa