Effects of multisensory stimulation in people with Huntington's disease: a randomized controlled pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether behavioural, motor and physiological responses of individuals with Huntington's disease (HD) to a controlled multisensory environment (MSE) are effective as a therapeutic (sustained effects) or leisure (immediate effects) activity.


METHODS
Pilot study--a randomized, controlled, two-group design.


METHODS
Specialist residential unit for people with mid-late stage HD.


METHODS
Twelve patients with HD (one subject from each group dropped out during the study after week 8 due to medical complications).


METHODS
Patients attended eight, 30-minute sessions over a four-week period, of multisensory stimulation (MSE, treatment group) or relaxation activities (control group).


METHODS
Between-group comparisons for changes between assessment sessions for two behavioural assessments: Rehabilitation Evaluation--Hall and Baker (REHAB), Behaviour and Mood Disturbance Scale (BMD); a motor assessment: the dyskinesia section of the St Hans Rating Scale (SHRS); physiological measures: blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. Secondary measures during intervention sessions included behavioural assessment using the Interact.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences found between the groups for any main outcome measures made between sessions. The MSE group showed some positive effects within-sessions, with the Interact showing significant between-group differences in immediate effects on mood (p = 0.028). There was also a significantly different change over time for within-session changes in stimulation levels (p = 0.0002) and mood (p = 0.0001) between the groups. No physiological effects were observed in relation to sessions in either group. Two MSE subjects underwent changes in medication during the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no therapeutic effect of MSEs over the four-week study period. MSEs appear to be more effective thanconventional relaxation techniques as a leisure activity.
Leng
Tanya R
TR
Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, London, UK.
Woodward
Melanie J
MJ
Stokes
Maria J
MJ
Swan
Anthony V
AV
Wareing
Lesley-Ann
LA
Baker
Roger
R
D000339:Affect; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010465:Perception; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D016896:Treatment Outcome