PSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS OF HUNTINGTON DISEASE: A CASE REPORT

Anukriti Singh, Abhilaksh Kango*, Mehak Garg

ABSTRACT

Huntington disease is a rare chronic disorder of neurodegenerative nature in which cognitive and behavioural symptoms are seen along with choreatic movements. Main aetiology is unstable CAG repeats expansions in the geneIT15 which encrypts Huntingtin. It’s mainly known for progressive motor and cognitive symptoms but also presents with psychiatric symptoms which are underrecognized. In recent years the neuropsychiatric symptoms have attracted the attention which are widely prevalent in Huntington disease. However, these psychiatric symptoms are still mistaken as psychiatric illness mainly in prodromal phase of illness which presents with depression, impulsivity and aggression. Clinical picture of patient is confused by this dilemma which leads to diagnostic delay leading to prognostic worsening and deteriorated quality of life. We present a case who presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms to start with. It helps to elicit the need for recognising early nonspecific psychiatric symptoms like irritability and depression along with other psychotic symptoms which do not respond typically to treatment in early presentation and also in progression of neurodegenerative disease like Huntington’s disease.

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