Drug-induced gambling disorder: A not so rare but underreported condition

Iatrogenic triggers for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: A WHO safety database disproportionality analysis

Eating disorders, characterized by abnormal eating, weight control behaviors or both include anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). We investigated their potential iatrogenic triggers, using real-world data from the WHO safety database (VigiBase®). VigiBase® was queried for all AN and BN reports. The reports were classified as `pediatric' or `adult' according to age. Disproportionality analyses relied on the Information Component (IC), in which a 95% confidence interval lower-end positivity was required to suspect a signal. Our queries yielded 309 AN and 499 BN reports. Isotretinoin was disproportionately reported in pediatric AN (IC 3.6; [2.6-4.3]), adult AN (IC 3.1; [1.7-4.0]), and pediatric BN (IC 3.9; [3.0-4.7]). Lamivudine (IC 4.2; [3.2-4.9]), nevirapine (IC 3.7; [2.6-4.6]), and zidovudine (IC 3.4; [2.0-4.3]) had the highest ICs in adult AN. AN was associated with isotretinoin, anticonvulsants in minors, and antiretroviral drugs in adults. In adults, BN was related to psychotropic and hormonally active drugs. Before treatment initiation, an anamnesis should seek out mental health conditions, allowing the identification of patients at risk of developing or relapsing into AN or BN. In addition to misuse, the hypothesis of iatrogenic triggers for AN and BN should also be considered.

Drug-Induced Gambling Disorder: Epidemiology, Neurobiology, and Management

Problematic gambling has been suggested to be a possible consequence of dopaminergic medications used mainly in neurological conditions, i.e. pramipexole and ropinirole, and possibly by one antipsychotic compound, aripiprazole. Patients with Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome and other conditions potentially treated with dopamine agonists, as well as patients treated for psychotic disorders, are vulnerable patient groups with theoretically increased risk of developing gambling disorder (GD), for example due to higher rates of mental ill-health in these groups. The aim of the present paper is to review the epidemiological, clinical, and neurobiological evidence of the association between dopaminergic medications and GD, and to describe risk groups and treatment options. The neurobiology of GD involves the reward and reinforcement system, based mainly on mesocorticolimbic dopamine projections, with the nucleus accumbens being a crucial area for developing addictions to substances and behaviors. The addictive properties of gambling can perhaps be explained by the reward uncertainty that activates dopamine signaling in a pathological manner. Since reward-related learning is mediated by dopamine, it can be altered by dopaminergic medications, possibly leading to increased gambling behavior and a decreased impulse control. A causal relationship between the medications and GD seems likely, but the molecular mechanisms behind this association have not been fully described yet. More research is needed in order to fully outline the clinical picture of GD developing in patient groups with dopaminergic medications, and data are needed on the differentiation of risk in different compounds. In addition, very few interventional studies are available on the management of GD induced by dopaminergic medications. While GD overall can be treated, there is need for treatment studies testing the effectiveness of tapering of the medication or other gambling-specific treatment modalities in these patient groups.

Impulse control disorders associated with dopaminergic drugs: A disproportionality analysis using vigibase

BACKGROUND

Dopamine receptor agonist drugs, which are used, for example, to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), increase the risk for impulse control disorders (ICDs), potentially resulting in devastating psychosocial consequences. It is unknown whether other drugs with dopaminergic properties also increase the risk for ICDs. This study assesses the disproportionality of reporting ICDs between drugs with dopaminergic properties and selected non-dopaminergic drugs.

METHODS

A case/non-case disproportionality analysis was performed, using data from VigiBase (1968-2020). Reports on ICDs as suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were cases (n=852), and those with ADRs other than ICDs were non-cases (n=281,720). Relative reporting frequencies were expressed as adjusted reporting odds ratios (aRORs). Within the dopamine receptor agonists, the relationship between reporting odds ratios and dopamine receptor occupancy was explored.

RESULTS

A high disproportionality was found for reporting ICDs for all dopaminergic drugs (aROR 20.4 [95% CI 17.4-24.1]) compared to non-dopaminergic drugs. In pharmacotherapeutic subgroups, a high disproportionality was found for primary dopaminergic agents used in PD (aROR 52.1 [95% CI 44.1-61.5]), and to a lesser extent for ADHD psychostimulants and antidepressants (aROR 5.8 [95% 4.1-8.3] and aROR 3.9 [95% CI 2.9-5.6], respectively). There was no difference in reporting by consumers and healthcare professionals. The highest disproportionality was found for the dopamine receptor agonists pramipexole and ropinirole.

CONCLUSIONS

A signal of disproportion in ICD occurrence was found among all investigated drugs with dopaminergic properties, highlighting the importance of counselling and monitoring for ICDs when prescribing dopaminergic drugs.

Increased risk for developing gambling disorder under the treatment with pramipexole, ropinirole, and aripiprazole: A nationwide register study in Sweden

Gambling Disorder (GD) has recently been reclassified from an impulse-control disorder to a behavioural addiction and, as in other addictive disorders, the dopaminergic reward system is involved. According to neuroimaging studies, alterations within the striatal dopaminergic signalling can occur in GD. However, the findings to date are controversial and there has been no agreement yet on how the reward system is affected on a molecular basis. Within the last 20 years, there has been growing evidence for a higher risk to develop GD in response to certain dopaminergic medication. Especially the dopamine agonists pramipexole and ropinirole, and the dopamine modulator aripiprazole seem to increase the likelihood for GD. The goal of this study was to examine the association between a prescription for either of the three pharmaceuticals and a GD diagnosis in a large cross-sectional study of the Swedish population. Compared to patients with any other dopaminergic drug prescription (38.7% with GD), the diagnosis was more common in patients with a dopamine agonist prescription (69.8% with GD), resulting in an odds ratio of 3.2. A similar association was found between aripiprazole prescriptions and GD diagnoses, which were analysed within the subgroup of all patients with schizophrenia or a schizotypal, delusional, or another non-mood psychotic disorder. An aripiprazole prescription increased the likelihood of GD (88.8%) in comparison to patients without an aripiprazole prescription (71.2%) with an odds ratio of 3.4. This study contributes to the increasingly reliable evidence for an association between several dopaminergic drugs and a higher risk for developing GD. Therefore, one future research goal should be a better understanding of the neurobiology in GD to be able to design more selective dopaminergic medication with less severe side effects. Additionally, this knowledge could enable the development of pharmacotherapy in GD and other addictive disorders.

The concept and management of acute episodes of treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The definitions of treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (TRBD) have varied across studies. Additionally, its management is clinically challenging. An updated synthesis and appraisal of the available evidence is needed.

METHODS

A systematic search of major electronic databases from inception up to May 25th, 2020, was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the management of TRBD. When sufficient evidence was available, a meta-analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies (n = 928 patients) were included in the qualitative synthesis. Fourteen studies (n = 803) assessed treatment-resistant acute bipolar depression (TRBD-De), including five neuromodulatory and nine pharmacological trials. Rapid- vs. standard up-titration of clozapine showed promising efficacy for TRBD mania, without significant adverse events. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was confirmed to be similarly effective for TRBD-De as for treatment-resistant unipolar depression: odd ratio, OR = 0.919 (95%C.I. = 0.44-1.917), I² = 13.98, p = .822. TRBD-De patients exposed to ketamine at day one post-infusion had high odds of response: OR = 10.682 (95%C.I. = 2.142-53.272), I² = 0, p = <.005. The pooled drop-out rate in the ketamine trials was 21.2%. Additional evidence is warranted to confirm the potential efficacy of pramipexole or stimulants for TRBD-De.

LIMITATIONS

Publication/measurement bias; exploratory nature of the meta-analyses for interventions that included participants solely with TRBD-De.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, a few interventions are available for TRBD, including pramipexole, ECT, and clozapine, among others. Larger and better-designed trials for TRBD are warranted and should be based on more uniform operational definitions. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018114567.