Journal article
Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry, Vol.71(3), pp.310-314
09/2001
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.71.3.310
PMCID: PMC1737562
PMID: 11511702
Abstract
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
—Neuropsychiatric
symptoms 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.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington's disease
- Creators
- J S Paulsen - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 2880 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAR E Ready - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 2880 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAJ M Hamilton - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 2880 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAM S Mega - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 2880 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAJ L Cummings - Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, 2880 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry, Vol.71(3), pp.310-314
- DOI
- 10.1136/jnnp.71.3.310
- PMID
- 11511702
- PMCID
- PMC1737562
- NLM abbreviation
- J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
- ISSN
- 0022-3050
- eISSN
- 1468-330X
- Publisher
- BMJ Group
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2001
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984083813602771
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