Dopamine Disregulation and Punding Syndrome in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

100 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease have been examined in detail in the Movement Disorders and Parkinson Disease Polyclinic of Neurology Department of the Medical School of Gazi University. The dopamine disregulation syndrome and frequency of punding syndrome have been studied in the patients. In addition, some risk factors, which may be related to these syndromes, have also been tried to be determined. An inquiry, which was questioning the demographic characteristics, illness periods and types, drug types and doses which they administrated, has been applied to 100 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease. Additional inquiry has been applied to the patients whom compulsive behaviors were determined in them, and punding syndrome was diagnosed. Punding was determined in 10% of the subjects. The patients, whom punding syndrome was determined, were younger and male patients. Other compulsive behaviors such as pathologic shopping behavior and increasing of sexual activity have been frequently observed. Furthermore, in the patients whom punding syndrome was diagnosed, they have the history which they have administrated the drug in the amount more than of recommended. Any relationship was not determined between the punding syndrome and disease type, illness period, existing of other psychiatric patients in the history. Dopamine disregulation syndrome and punding generally take part in the literature as the notifications of fact. The studies, which have been executed in the large patient groups, are not sufficient. In addition, since the light facts are overlooked, their real prevalence is not known in net. Especially, this syndrome, which occurs in the patients with Parkinson disease who are treated with the dopamine replacement, will not be overlooked through the careful observation and inquiry. Keywords: Parkinson disease, dopamine disregulation syndrome, punding, dopamine replacement treatment