Punding

Punding is a possible symptom of Parkinson's disease.  I know I don't have this, because the repetitive, compulsive, irresistible behaviors I engage in are pleasurable, leading to service, accomplishments, and appreciation by others.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15077237






Punding is characterised by repetitive pointless behaviours that are carried out for long periods of time at the expense of all other activities. They have a compulsive flavour to them and any interruption or disruption of the activity from an outside source frequently leads to irritation, anxiety and frustration. The behaviour is irresistible but rarely considered to be pleasurable. It is often carried out overnight leading to sleep deprivation. The chosen behaviour is frequently related to the individual’s previous occupation, hobbies and pastimes. One of our patients who was a musician wrote thousands of musical lyrics over a short period, while a retired carpenter occupied himself with unnecessary joinery projects in his home. A retired seamstress spent hours cataloguing and sorting her large collection of buttons. One patient spent many hours pointlessly drawing (fig 1) while another spent most of the day on his computer cataloguing all types of data, including excessive detailing of medications and sleeping patterns, which he emailed to his doctor every month (fig 2). A feature of the behaviour is that it is never ending, it is disorganised and frequently leaves chaos in its wake. Most patients concede its pointlessness and often acknowledge its ultimate self-destructiveness. Punding can cause social avoidance, severe sleep deprivation, and disintegration of family relationships.1 In most cases it is the family members who describe the full social and functional impact of these behaviours on the patients’ lives.7
http://jneurology.wordpress.com/article/punding-in-parkinson-s-disease-1bbsle13m97c0-84/