JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are commonly developed among patients who take dopamine agonist drugs as a treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). Gambling disorder (GD) and hypersexuality are more frequent in male PD patients, with prevalence over 4% in dopamine agonists users. Although impulsive-compulsive behaviors are related to antiparkinsonian medication, and even though ICD symptomatology (as hypersexuality) often subsides when the dopaminergic dose is reduced, sometimes ICD persists in spite of drug adjustment. Consequently, a multidisciplinary approach should be considered to address these comorbidities and to explore new forms of complementary intervention, such as serious games or therapies adapted to PD.

Objective:

The aim of the current study is to present the case of a patient with ICD (hypersexuality) triggered by dopaminergic medication for PD. A combined intervention was carried out using cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for ICD adapted to PD, plus an intervention with a serious game (SG: e-Estesia) whose objective is to improve emotion regulation and impulsivity.

Methods:

After CBT (20 sessions) the patient received the intervention with e-Estesia (15 sessions). Repeated measures (before and after intervention) were administered to assess emotion regulation, general psychopathology or emotional distress and impulsivity. The aim of the combination of these interventions was to reduce the harm of the disease.

Results:

After the intervention with CBT techniques and e-Estesia, the patient presented less difficulties to regulate emotion, less emotional distress and lower levels of impulsivity in comparison to the beginning of the treatment. Moreover, the frequency and severity of the relapses also decreased.

Conclusions:

The combined intervention (CBT and SG) showed positive results in terms of treatment outcomes.