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Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
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Treatment of Depression in Huntington's Disease: A Systematic Review
Shayan Abdollah Zadegan1, Frank Ramirez1, Kirthan S Reddy1
1Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Ramirez, Rocha, Furr Stimming) and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Teixeira), McGovern Medical School (Reddy, Sahin), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Zadegan, Ramirez, Rocha, Teixeira, Furr Stimming).
The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|March 26, 2024
Summary
Depression in Huntington's disease (HD) has unique mechanisms but lacks specific treatments. This review found limited evidence, highlighting a critical need for HD-focused research on depression therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Depression is prevalent in Huntington's disease (HD), yet its unique pathophysiology differs from major depressive disorder.
- Current treatments for depression in HD are extrapolated from general population data, lacking HD-specific validation.
Approach:
- A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
- Searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo for studies on treating depression in HD, including 41 eligible records.
- Analyzed study types, assessment tools, and treatment modalities (pharmacological and non-pharmacological).
Key Points:
- The literature on treating depression in HD is sparse, predominantly consisting of case reports and series.
- Commonly used depression assessment tools included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
- Pharmacological treatments involved antidepressants and antipsychotics; non-pharmacological options included rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and neurostimulation.
Conclusions:
- A significant knowledge gap exists regarding effective depression treatments specifically for individuals with Huntington's disease.
- There is an urgent need for rigorous, HD-specific research to establish evidence-based treatment strategies for depression in this population.
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