Juvenile Huntington’s Disease: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations for the Psychiatrist

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• 作者：Joanna Quigley
• 关键词：Juvenile Huntington’s disease ; Neuropsychiatric ; Neurodegenerative ; Depression ; Anxiety ; Rigidity ; Chorea
• 刊名：Current Psychiatry Reports
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：19
• 期：2
• 全文大小：
• 刊物主题：Psychiatry;
• 出版者：Springer US
• ISSN：1535-1645
• 卷排序：19

文摘

Juvenile Huntington’s disease (JHD) is a neurodegenerative disease with onset prior to the age of 21. While it accounts for a relatively small proportion of Huntington’s disease (HD) diagnoses, its impact is significant on the quality of life for those affected. Clinicians may be unaware that HD can present in childhood and adolescence, delaying diagnosis. HD develops due to an expanded CAG repeat in the huntington gene. Rigidity, dystonia, and seizures are more common in JHD. Cognitive changes such as executive function impairments and decline in school performance are common. The burden of psychiatric symptoms is considerable and includes depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression. While novel approaches to treatment interventions are investigated, current care is limited to targeting symptoms rather than disease modification. Prompt diagnosis and symptomatic treatment can maximize quality of life for these patients.