Predicting Impulsivity in Parkinson's Disease Based Upon Medication Responsiveness
Date
2023
Authors
Edwards, Georgina
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterised by dopamine loss and associated motor symptoms including bradykinesia (slowness of movement), resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability. Dopaminergic replacement therapies aim to alleviate motor symptoms but can significantly increase the risk of developing an impulse control disorder (ICD), a behavioural disorder associated with failure to resist and control impulse desires and behaviours. However, medication dosage is not entirely predictive of the amount of dopamine that reaches the brain and is a poor predictor of ICD risk. We sought to capture a more accurate representation of dopamine medication efficacy by measuring the medication- induced change in motor symptom severity and testing whether it could predict ICD risk better than dopamine medication dosage. Evidence also suggests the severity of dyskinesias (abnormal involuntary movements) predicts ICD risk, and therefore was included in this study to compare against our alternative predictors. We tested 26 PD patients' motor performance 'on' and 'off' dopamine medication using five precise motor measures. Impulsivity and dyskinesia were captured using self-rated questionnaires, The Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease - Rating Scale and Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale. We found that whilst the change in motor function accounted for a larger amount of variance than medication dosage or dyskinesia scores, no predictor had a statistically significant relationship with impulsivity scores. The variance explained by our predictor is promising, but replication studies with a larger sample size are warranted to investigate a true relationship. Further implications for research and clinicians are discussed. Keywords: Parkinson's Disease, impulse control disorder, medication efficacy, objective motor measures
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2023
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses.
Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the author of this thesis and do not wish it to be made publicly available, or you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals
Description
This item is only available electronically.