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A double blind trial of lithium carbonate and haloperidol in Huntington's chorea
Insights
This study found no significant effect of lithium carbonate or haloperidol on Huntington
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Huntington's chorea (HC) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Current treatments for HC symptoms are limited.
- Psychological and behavioral symptoms are common in HC patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of lithium carbonate and haloperidol, alone and in combination, for treating Huntington's chorea.
- To assess the impact of these treatments on chorea severity and psychological variables.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, crossover trial with six HC patients.
- Four treatment conditions: lithium carbonate, haloperidol, combination therapy, and placebo.
- Each treatment was administered for three weeks, followed by assessments.
Main Results:
- No significant improvement in chorea measurements was observed with any treatment.
- Lithium carbonate and haloperidol combination showed improvement in three patients.
- Haloperidol alone increased depression ratings compared to placebo and other treatments.
Conclusions:
- Combination therapy of lithium carbonate and haloperidol may benefit certain HC patients, particularly those with irritability and impulsivity.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore optimal treatment strategies for HC.
Abstract:
Six patients with a family history of Huntington's chorea (HC) participated in a double blind crossover trial involving four treatments--lithium carbonate, haloperidol, lithium carbonate and haloperidol, and placebo. Each treatment was administered for three weeks and, at the end of each treatment period, assessments were made of chorea and a number of psychological variables. None of the treatments significantly affected chorea measurements. With regard to the psychological variables, the levels of irritability, the frequency of angry outbursts and depression did appear to be affected in some patients by the treatment. Three patients improved on a combination of lithium carbonate and haloperidol while the remaining three did not. Haloperidol alone significantly raised depression ratings above levels for other treatments including placebo. It is suggested that lithium carbonate and haloperidol together should be seriously considered in the treatment of HC when patients are excessively irritable and impulsive.