ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE: A CASE REPORT OF ZOOPHILIA

Abstract

In recent years, several studies have demonstrated the effect of dopaminergic drugs on in the development or aggravation of compulsive behaviors in Parkinson's disease. In the present article, the authors describe the clinical case of a patient who developed zoophilia as a complication of increased dopaminergic therapy instituted. It is a 77-year-old patient with an akinetic-rigid parkinsonic syndrome, with rest tremor, psychomotor slowing, muscular rigidity and postural instability, which showed a favorable clinical response to levodopa treatment. He was observed by Neurology, having been increased dopaminergic therapy at a later stage of the disease. About one week after the adjustment of the medication, the patient initiated hypersexuality with zoophilia. For this reason, he was referred to Psychiatry, who reduced the dosage of dopaminergic therapy and introduced antipsychotic medication, with significant behavioral improvement, without new episodes of zoophilia. Changes in sexual behavior in Parkinson's disease patients under treatment with levodopa are well known. However, paraphilias are often underdiagnosed. This fact is especially worrying since the behavioral manifestations of Parkinson's disease can become extremely disabling. This clinical case highlights the importance of addressing the potential adverse effects of dopaminergic therapy, thematic in which the literature still remains scarce. The detection of sexual changes allows an early intervention on its etiology, thus avoiding possible medical and social complications that may arise.