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Huntington's Disease: Prevalence and Psychological Indicators of Pain

Mandy Underwood1, Sheila Bonas1, Maria Dale1,2

  • 1Department of Clinical Psychology University of Leicester Leicester United Kingdom.

Movement Disorders Clinical Practice
|October 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Pain is common in Huntington

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder impacting movement, cognition, and mood.
  • Limited research exists on pain prevalence and psychological factors in HD patients.
  • This study aimed to determine pain prevalence and associated psychological factors in individuals with HD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the prevalence of pain in Huntington's disease patients.
  • Identify psychological factors associated with pain severity in HD.
  • Analyze the relationship between psychological measures and pain in HD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 1474 participants in the European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN) REGISTRY study.
  • Assessed pain severity using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item short-form health survey.
  • Conducted regression analyses on psychological factors including anxiety, depression, and irritability.

Main Results:

  • Overall pain prevalence was 41%, increasing in later disease stages (50% in stages IV and V).
  • Pain severity correlated significantly with participant-rated anxiety and depression.
  • Interviewer-rated anxiety, depression, and irritability were also significantly linked to pain severity.

Conclusions:

  • Pain is a significant issue for individuals with Huntington's disease, especially in advanced stages.
  • Healthcare providers should consider pain in HD patients exhibiting anxiety, depression, or irritability.
  • Recognizing psychological distress can aid in identifying and managing pain in HD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Huntington's diseaseanxietydepressionirritabilitypain

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