title: Aggression in Huntington's disease: a systematic review of rates of aggression and treatment methods.
abstract: Aggression is commonly reported in individuals with Huntington's disease (HD). While correlating factors for aggression are often speculated about, features that are associated with, and contribute to, aggression in this population have not been clearly determined. This systematic review investigates rates of aggression and treatment options for aggression in HD. A number of key findings were revealed. Studies reporting on rates of aggression revealed that its prevalence is high, falling between 22 and 66 percent in the majority of studies. Aggression may be more common in males with HD, and is also found in higher rates in individuals who experience frequent falls, have obsessive-compulsive symptoms and suicidal ideation. There is little research investigating antecedents for aggression in HD. A wide variety of psychotropic medications have been reported in the literature to treat individuals with HD and aggressive behaviour. However, due to methodological limitations, no treatment recommendations can be made, based on the current literature. Two non-medication therapies have been investigated, behaviour support and sensory modulation intervention. However, again, due to methodological limitations with these studies, further research is needed before they can be recommended as frontline interventions. This review highlights the need for further methodologically rigorous studies investigating the treatment of aggression in HD.
authors.affiliation: Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Box Hill Hospital, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia Brain Disorders Program, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Brain Disorders Program, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.affiliation: Brain Disorders Program, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Huntington's Disease Service, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne, Australia School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Churchyard
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Aggression; Huntington's disease; prevalence; therapy; treatment