Characterization of psychiatric admissions in Huntington disease: A retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common clinical features of Huntington disease (HD) that can result in mental health emergencies. However, there are no established guidelines for inpatient psychiatric treatment in HD. In this study, the investigators reviewed psychiatric hospitalizations in a large medical center to better understand the mental health needs of patients with HD and identify potential gaps in care.

METHODS

Charts were reviewed to identify patients with HD at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who were admitted to psychiatry between 2013 and 2020. Clinical data and demographic information were obtained from the electrical health record along with the indication for each psychiatric admission, actions taken during the admission, and follow-up care.

RESULTS

Among this cohort, 32 of 287 patients (11.1 %) were admitted to inpatient psychiatry at least once. Age at first admission ranged from 17 to 74 years, with 84.4 % of patients in the motor-manifest stage. The most common reasons for admission were suicidal ideation or attempt (57.6 %), psychosis (39.4 %), and aggression (36.4 %). Most patients were able to return to their previous level of care, although readmissions were common.

CONCLUSIONS

These results emphasize the frequency and severity of psychiatric crises in HD and support the need for expanded access to emergency psychiatry care across the disease course. Further research is warranted to develop an integrated, disease-specific approach to early recognition and management of psychiatric symptoms in HD.