Treatment of the Psychiatric Manifestations of Huntington's Disease: A Review of the Literature

Leroi, Iracema; Michalon, Max

doi:10.1177/070674379804300909

Cited by 31 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Results of this study suggest that the infrequent patient with Huntington's disease should be considered an opportunity for training and that psychiatric assessment should be a standard component of the Huntington's disease evaluation. Excellent references for treatment can be found in Rosenblatt et al 29 and Leroi and Michalon 30…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease

Paulsen

2001

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery &Amp; Psychiatry

420

255

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Objective-Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in Huntington's disease and have been considered its presenting manifestation. Research characterising these symptoms in Huntington's disease is variable, however, encumbered by limitations within and across studies. Gaining a better understanding of neuropsychiatric symptoms is essential, as these symptoms have implications for disease management, prognosis, and quality of life for patients and caregivers. Method-Fifty two patients with Huntington's disease were administered standardised measures of cognition, psychiatric symptoms, and motor abnormalities. Patient caregivers were administered the neuropsychiatric inventory. Results-Ninety eight per cent of the patients exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms, the most prevalent being dysphoria, agitation, irritability, apathy, and anxiety. Symptoms ranged from mild to severe and were unrelated to dementia and chorea. Conclusions-Neuropsychiatricsymptoms are prevalent in Huntington's disease and are relatively independent of cognitive and motor aspects of the disease. Hypothesised links between neuropsychiatric symptoms of Huntington's disease and frontal-striatal circuitry were explored. Findings indicate that dimensional measures of neuropsychiatric symptoms are essential to capture the full range of pathology in Huntington's disease and are vital to include in a comprehensive assessment of the disease. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001;71:310-314)

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease

Paulsen

2001

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery &Amp; Psychiatry

420

255

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“…The considerable amount of information accumulated on the genetics of this condition has not been matched by a comparable advancement in its treatment. In fact, affected individuals invariably die after an average 15-18 years from the disease onset (Harper 1992;Leroi and Michalon 1998). The pharmacological treatments so far proposed have essentially aimed at improving the quality of life of the patients by reducing the inability deriving from severe choreic movements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluoxetine in the treatment of Huntington's disease

2001

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“…Changed sexual interest and behavior and sexual dysfunctions are common problems in HD but do not only raise a problem for the patient himself [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Also spouses and children suffer from the socio-psychiatric consequences [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexuality in Huntington's disease

Schmidt

Bonelli

2008

Wien Med Wochenschr

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Sexuality and partnership have an important influence on the quality of life of patients with chronic disorders. There are just a few studies in literature about sexuality in Huntington's disease which conclude that up to 85% men and up to 75% of women experience high levels of sexual problems, most of them having prevalent symptoms of a hypoactive sexual disorder but also increased sexual interest and paraphilia were found. There is no evidence that sexual dysfunction is mainly a specific symptom of HD and may be associated with the specific brain lesion itself or if it is chiefly related to the psychosocial factors caused by the steadily worsening of the disease. Further studies should focus on asymptomatic patients to explore sexual changes preceding neurological and motor symptoms and should incorporate partners to objectify sexual distinctive features. Investigations on the context of sexual dysfunction with depression, irritability and dementia symptoms are needed to better understand reasons for sexual changes in HD. Treatment options for HD patients with sexual disorder are only reported sporadically, guidelines can only be obtained from non-HD patients and further research is needed.

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Treatment of the Psychiatric Manifestations of Huntington's Disease: A Review of the Literature

Abstract: The clinical management of the psychiatric manifestations of HD requires much more complete and systematic study before any definite conclusions as to efficacy of various approaches can be drawn.

Cited by 31 publications

References 43 publications

Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease

Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease

Fluoxetine in the treatment of Huntington's disease

Sexuality in Huntington's disease

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