Does the Country Make a Difference in Impulse Control Disorders? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background Background: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have an increased frequency in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), mainly because of treatment with dopamine agonists (DA). Factors related with the country of origin (culture, economy, healthcare politics) may impact phenomenology. Objectives Objectives: To explore phenomenology of ICDs depending on the country. Methods Methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed using Pubmed database. Articles published up to 2018 in which the prevalence of ICDs was analyzed were selected. Results Results: Thirty-two studies from 22 countries worldwide were included. The highest prevalence of ICDs in each continent was found in UK (59%), USA (39.1%) and India (31.6%). Frequency of ICDs was higher in those studies with lower mean age, higher proportion of males, whenever a screening instrument was used and whenever prescription of DAs was more common. Prevalence of ICDs was higher in Western countries compared to Asian countries (20.8% vs. 12.8%, P < 0.001) as it was the proportion of patients treated with DAs (66% vs. 48.2%, P < 0.001). Hypersexuality was the most common ICD overall (up to 23.8%). The highest frequencies of compulsive buying and eating were found in Western countries. Gambling was less commonly diagnosed, but prevalence was relevant Japan (14%). Conclusion Conclusion: We observed a tendency towards a different ICD profile in different geographical areas, which may be attributable to socio-economical, cultural or political influences in the phenomenology of these disorders. Acknowledging these differences could help their early detection, which is critical for prognosis.

Impulse control disorders and related behaviors in Parkinson's disease: risk factors, clinical and genetic aspects, and management

“…The frequency and severity seem higher in specific subpopulations such as PD patients with Parkin mutations or GBA variants [38,39]. A recent review focused on the geographical analysis of ICD prevalence in PD, in regards to the socio-cultural aspects that may influence their occurrence [40]. The overall prevalence in European and American countries (20.8%) was significantly higher than in Asian countries (12.8%).…”

A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Panic Buying: Integrating Neurobiological, Attachment-Based, and Social-Anthropological Perspectives

“…Moreover, the value attached to possessions in general varies across cultures. Western countries generally assign a higher level of importance to material possessions, which are often portrayed as linked to success, happiness and popularity ( 58 ); compulsive shopping has been reported more frequently in such cultures ( 59 ), as has panic buying ( 14 , 21 ).…”

Reply: Screening Instruments and Prevalence of Impulse Control Disorders

“…3 Only a minority of studies, both from Western and Eastern countries, relied on clinical interviews to detect ICDs, as we reported. 1 Jaakkola and Joutsa 2 also raised their concerns about another important issue regarding impulse control behaviors (ICBs), which we did not fully address in our review. As we explained, we chose not to address the prevalence of the different subtypes of ICBs as these data were more inconsistently reported than ICDs.…”

“…We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the comments on our recently published study 1 and thank Jaakkola and Joutsa 2 for their constructive discussion.…”