Dopamine dysregulation syndrome
| Dopamine dysregulation syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Two-dimensional skeletal formula of the dopamine molecule. Dopamine receptor agonists mediate the development of DDS. | |
| Specialty | Neurology, Psychiatry |
| Symptoms | Disinhibition, impulsivity, hypersexuality, repetitive and obsessive behavior, addiction to offending medication |
| Complications | Psychosis, addiction, marital problems, financial problems |
| Causes | Dopaminergic drugs (e.g., dopamine agonists, levodopa) |
| Treatment | Reduce intake of dopaminergic drug |
| Medication | Antipsychotics, valproate |
Dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) is a dysfunction of the reward system observed in some individuals taking dopaminergic medications for an extended length of time. It is characterized by severely disinhibited patterns of behavior, leading to problems such as addiction to the offending medication, gambling addiction, or compulsive sexual behavior, along with a general orientation towards immediate gratification. It typically occurs in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) or restless legs syndrome (RLS) who have taken dopamine agonist medications for an extended period of time.