Impulse control disorders in prolactinoma patients treated with dopamine agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

INTRODUCTION: Dopamine agonists (DAs) are the first-line treatment for prolactinoma; however, long-term use has been linked to psychiatric complications, particularly impulse control disorders (ICDs). While ICDs are well-documented in Parkinson's disease patients receiving DAs, data on prolactinoma patients remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of ICDs among prolactinoma patients treated with DAs. METHODS: statistic and the Cochrane Q test, and risk ratios (RR) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: = 0 %). No significant differences were observed in pathological gambling, binge eating, or compulsive shopping. CONCLUSION: DAs may be associated with increased risk of ICDs in prolactinoma patients, particularly hypersexuality and punding, highlighting the need for routine screening during DA therapy. However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups regarding pathological gambling, binge eating, and compulsive shopping. Given the observational nature of the included studies, these associations should be interpreted with caution.