Creativity related to dopaminergic treatment: A multicenter study

Impulse control disorder (ICD), including pathological gambling, hypersexuality, and compulsive shopping has been linked to dopaminergic treatment, especially treatment with dopamine agonists (DAs). However, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may experience enhanced creativity during DA therapy, often manifesting as newfound artistic pursuits. Though ICD is very well recognized in the literature, enhanced creativity remains underreported, probably because, unlike ICD, enhanced creativity is often positive and rarely disruptive for patients and relatives. We studied 21 patients (20 patients with PD and one patient with restless-legs syndrome) with enhanced creativity. These individuals engaged in artistic activities after dopaminergic treatment; all but one were treated with DA (pramipexole, 14/21; ropinirole, 4/21; rotigotine 2/21). Most patients preferred painting as their main activity, but many were engaged in several activities, usually in combination. We hypothesize that by facilitating a stimulating environment for parkinsonian patients, this positive phenomenon may present more frequently.