BACKGROUND: In Huntington's disease (HD) the risk of suicide is increased. Since suicidality may precede suicide, this study investigates prevalence, clinical associations and predictors of suicidality in HD. METHODS: Suicidality was investigated in 152 mutation carriers and 56 non-carriers, and was considered present if the score on the item 'suicidal ideation' of the Problem Behaviours Assessment (PBA) was >1 point. After 2 years, 100 mutation carriers who were free of suicidality at baseline were re-assessed. Associations and predictors of suicidality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Eleven (20%) pre-motor and 20 (20%) motor symptomatic mutation carriers were considered suicidal compared to none of the non-carriers. Cross-sectionally, suicidal mutation carriers were more likely to use antidepressants (odds ratio=5.3), were more often apathetic (OR=2.8), more often had a depressed mood according to the PBA (OR=5.9), and were more often diagnosed with a DSM-IV depression diagnosis (OR=4.7). Independent associations were more frequent use of antidepressants (OR=4.0) and presence of a depressed mood (OR=4.2). Longitudinally, depressed mood (OR=10.6) at baseline was the only independent predictor of suicidality at follow-up. LIMITATIONS: Selection bias might have occurred which could have affected the suicidality rate. CONCLUSION: It is important to screen both pre-motor and motor symptomatic HD mutation carriers for suicidality. The presence of a depressed mood is both associated with and predictive of suicidality in HD and assessment of depressed mood can help to identify individuals with increased risk for suicide.
BACKGROUND: In Huntington's disease (HD) the risk of suicide is increased. Since suicidality may precede suicide, this study investigates prevalence, clinical associations and predictors of suicidality in HD. METHODS: Suicidality was investigated in 152 mutation carriers and 56 non-carriers, and was considered present if the score on the item 'suicidal ideation' of the Problem Behaviours Assessment (PBA) was >1 point. After 2 years, 100 mutation carriers who were free of suicidality at baseline were re-assessed. Associations and predictors of suicidality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Eleven (20%) pre-motor and 20 (20%) motor symptomatic mutation carriers were considered suicidal compared to none of the non-carriers. Cross-sectionally, suicidal mutation carriers were more likely to use antidepressants (odds ratio=5.3), were more often apathetic (OR=2.8), more often had a depressed mood according to the PBA (OR=5.9), and were more often diagnosed with a DSM-IV depression diagnosis (OR=4.7). Independent associations were more frequent use of antidepressants (OR=4.0) and presence of a depressed mood (OR=4.2). Longitudinally, depressed mood (OR=10.6) at baseline was the only independent predictor of suicidality at follow-up. LIMITATIONS: Selection bias might have occurred which could have affected the suicidality rate. CONCLUSION: It is important to screen both pre-motor and motor symptomatic HD mutation carriers for suicidality. The presence of a depressed mood is both associated with and predictive of suicidality in HD and assessment of depressed mood can help to identify individuals with increased risk for suicide.
Authors: Annie Killoran; Kevin M Biglan; Joseph Jankovic; Shirley Eberly; Elise Kayson; David Oakes; Anne B Young; Ira Shoulson Journal: Neurology Date: 2013-04-26 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Melissa Wesson; Nicholas R Boileau; Joel S Perlmutter; Jane S Paulsen; Stacey K Barton; Michael K McCormack; Noelle E Carlozzi Journal: J Huntingtons Dis Date: 2018
Authors: Philipp Honrath; Imis Dogan; Olga Wudarczyk; Katharina S Görlich; Mikhail Votinov; Cornelius J Werner; Beate Schumann; Rena T Overbeck; Jörg B Schulz; Bernhard G Landwehrmeyer; Raquel E Gur; Ute Habel; Kathrin Reetz Journal: J Neurol Date: 2018-08-27 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Melissa Deanna Shepard; Kate Perepezko; Martijn P G Broen; Jared Thomas Hinkle; Ankur Butala; Kelly A Mills; Julie Nanavati; Nicole Mercado Fischer; Paul Nestadt; Gregory Pontone Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2019-01-19 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: Andrew McGarry; Michael P McDermott; Karl Kieburtz; Wai Lun Alan Fung; Elizabeth McCusker; Jing Peng; Elisabeth A de Blieck; Merit Cudkowicz Journal: Neurology Date: 2019-03-08 Impact factor: 9.910