Background: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have been described as underrecognized side effects of dopamine agonists (DAs) in neurological disorders but are not sufficiently understood in endocrine conditions.
Objective: To identify the prevalence of DAs induced ICDs and determine potential risk factors related to these disorders in patients with prolactinoma and non-function pituitary adenomas (NFPAs).
Methods: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study involving 200 patients with prolactinoma and NFPAs, who received follow-ups in tertiary referral centers. DA-induced ICDs were assessed using ICD questionnaires modified from prior studies.
Result: At least one ICD was reported by 52% of participants, among whom 28.5% mentioned compulsive shopping, 24.5% punding, and 24.5% hypersexuality. Furthermore, 33% of the patients reported the presence of one type of ICD behavior, while 12% specified two and 7% had three types of such behavior. The multivariable logistic regression showed that the significant risk factors of ICD were younger age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88-0.97, p 0.001), being single (AOR: 0.15, 95%CI: 0.03-0.84, p 0.03), and a positive history of psychiatric illness (AOR: 7.67, 95% CI: 1.37-42.97, p 0.021).
Conclusion: ICDs with a broad range of psychiatric symptoms are common in individuals with DA-treated prolactinoma and NFPAs. Endocrinologists should be aware of this potential side effect, particularly in patients with a personal history of psychiatric disorder.
Keywords: Bromocriptine; Cabergoline; Dopamine agonist; ICD questionnaires; Impulse control disorders; Pituitary tumors; Prolactinoma.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.