Impulse control disorders and dopamine agonists

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are a potentially detrimental group of behaviours with recognised and increasingly reported associations with dopamine agonist (DA) use. As DAs are an established and commonly prescribed treatment for patients with prolactinoma, further understanding of the relationship between DAs and ICDs in this group of patients is merited. In this narrative review, we discuss the evidence to date exploring the prevalence of ICDs in patients with pituitary tumours, examine reasons for considerable variability in reported findings, and appraise and summarise evidence attempting to establish the association between DAs and ICDs. We also outline the recommended clinical approach to these disorders and highlight ongoing uncertainties within the field that warrant further research.