title: An International Survey-based Algorithm for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in Huntington's Disease.
abstract: It is generally believed that treatments are available to manage obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCB's) in Huntington's disease (HD). However, lack of an evidence base prevents guideline development. The research literature fails to address the indications for behavioral interventions, drug selection, drug dosing, management of inadequate response to a single drug, and preferred drugs when additional behavioral symptoms comorbid to OCBs are present. In an effort to inform clinical decision-making, we surveyed an international group of experts to address these points. Survey results showed that experts utilized behavioral therapy only for patients with mild cognitive impairment. There was expert agreement that a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) was the first choice drug, although clomipramine (CMI) was cited as a monotherapy choice by the smaller number of experts familiar with its use. Perceived efficacy for control of OCBs was similar for both SSRIs and CMI. Though less favored choices overall, antipsychotics (APDs) and antiepileptic mood stabilizers (AEDs) were most often used as augmentation strategies. In addition to survey results, this report reviews available studies, and lastly presents an algorithm for the treatment of OCBs in HD based on practice-based preferences obtained from this survey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA;  University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK;  Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center & North Carolina Center for the Care of Huntington's Disease;  Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA;  Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY;  Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; and Centre for Mental Health Care Delfland, Delft, Netherlands;  Formerly CHDI Foundation, Inc. Presently independent CNS development consultant and  Huntington's Disease Drug Works, Lake Forest Park, WA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Craufurd
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Edmondson
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: van Kammen
authors.forename: Lavonne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodman