title: Psychiatric disorders in Huntington's disease: a 2-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the presence and course of formal psychiatric disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) in 142 Huntington's disease (HD) mutation carriers in a two-year follow-up design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 142 mutation carriers, 106 (75%) participated in the second measurement of an ongoing cohort study on psychopathology in HD. Presence of psychiatric disorders was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 91 patients without a formal psychiatric disorder at baseline, 14 (15%) had a psychiatric disorder after 2 years, mostly a major depressive disorder (MDD) (64%). The baseline characteristics of lower education, having no children, a lower level of global daily functioning, a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis, and the use of psychotropic medication were predictive of incident psychiatric disorders after 2 years. Of the 15 patients with a psychiatric diagnosis at baseline, eight (53%) no longer had a psychiatric disorder at follow-up. All seven patients (47%) with a persistent psychiatric disorder were female and their most prevalent diagnosis was generalized anxiety disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cohort study confirms that psychiatric disorders, in particular MDD, frequently occur in patients with HD. Professionals working with HD patients should therefore be aware of the high risk of psychopathology in HD because early diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders may improve the quality of life of patients and their caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. w.reedeker@lumc.nl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reedeker
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: van der Mast
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Giltay
authors.forename: T A D
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kooistra
authors.forename: R A C
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Duijn
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs