Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS)

Diagnosis

Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) is an uncommon complication in the treatment of PD, characterized by addictive behavior and excessive use of dopaminergic medication 110

• prevalence is 3-4% in movement disorder clinics 110
• can result in impulse control disorders and psychosis 110
• Clinical characteristics include:
  • responsiveness to levodopa (100%)
  • increased dopamine replacement therapy dose used (100%)
  • drug-seeking behavior (91.8%)
  • functional impairment (98%)
  • hypomanic / manic / cyclothymic mood (64.3%)
  • dysthymic / depressed mood (62.2%)
  • anxiety (37.8%)
  • dyskinesias (79.6%) 110
• comorbidities include
  • punding (21.4%)
  • aggression (17.3%)
  • psychosis (31.6%, mostly delusions)
  • walkabout (11.2%)
  • binge eating (10.2%)
  • gambling (27.6%)
  • hypersexuality (39.8%)
  • compulsive shopping (8.2%) 110