title: Forgotten person in the Huntington disease family.
abstract: Although spouses play a major role in managing the care of persons affected with Huntington disease (HD), often at the price of subordinating their own aspirations and needs, little or no professional attention has been given to them in the HD literature. Such factors as secrets kept from the spouse, the early age-of-onset of symptoms, gender, and the coping strategies employed by spouses of affected persons are discussed and illustrated. Also, the impact of predictive testing for HD on spouses of persons undergoing testing is briefly touched on.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012944:Social Support