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Long-term Follow-up of Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson's Disease E Mamikonyan, AD Siderowf, JE Duda, MN Potenza, S Horn, MB Stern, D Weintraub Movement Disorders 2007;22: Epub ahead of print Reducing dopamine agonist use reliably improves impulse control disorders, according to this study. Eighteen PD patients with impulse control disorder (ICD), either active or in remission, were identified from a study database. Fifteen were available for a follow-up interview by phone (Time 2), conducted at a mean of 29 months after initial ICD diagnosis or time of maximum ICD symptoms (Time 1). Patients answered questions on the Minnesota Impulse Disorder Interview and semi-structured clinical interview, including a self-rating of change in ICD symptoms. At Time 1, all patients were taking a dopamine agonist. Patients reported compulsive gambling (8), sexuality (7), and buying (3). At Time 2, 7 patients had stopped using an agonist, 5 had decreased their DA dose, and 3 had no change. Patients reducing DA dose increased their use of levodopa by a corresponding amount. Mean UPDRS scores did not change between Times 1 and 2. All patients who stopped using DAs experienced complete remission of ICD symptoms. Patients who decreased their DA dose had either full or partial remission. Of the 3 patients who did not change their DA dose, 1 remained fully symptomatic, 1 had partial remission, and 1 had full remission. The authors conclude, "For patients who develop and ICD in the context of DA treatment, discontinuing or significantly decreasing DA exposure, even when offset by an increase in levodopa treatment, is associated with remission of or significant reduction in ICD behaviors without worsening of motor symptoms." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn