Systematic review of pharmacological treatments for depressive symptoms in Huntington's disease

Background Depressive symptoms are common in Huntington's disease (HD), profoundly affect quality of life, and predict suicidal ideation. However, no recent review of antidepressant treatment in HD has been published. Methods We performed a PRISMA systematic review of HD studies, which used a r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Movement disorders 2014-10, Vol.29 (12), p.1556-1561
Main Authors: Moulton, Calum D., Hopkins, C.W.P., Bevan-Jones, W. Richard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
antidepressant
Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use
depression
Depression - drug therapy
Depression - etiology
Humans
Huntington Disease - complications
Movement disorders
rating scale
suicidality
systematic review
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Summary:Background Depressive symptoms are common in Huntington's disease (HD), profoundly affect quality of life, and predict suicidal ideation. However, no recent review of antidepressant treatment in HD has been published. Methods We performed a PRISMA systematic review of HD studies, which used a recognized antidepressant and measured change in depressive symptoms using a validated psychiatric scale. Controlled trials, uncontrolled trials, observational studies, and case series were included. Results Eleven studies were included, totalling 190 patients. One study examined venlafaxine, one fluoxetine, one citalopram, one atomoxetine, one modafinil, one lithium, and five antipsychotics. No studies were of adequate duration, size, or outcome, and no controlled trial in a depressed population produced a positive result. Conclusions Inadequate evidence exists to guide antidepressant treatment in HD. Further research is needed to assess antidepressant efficacy and to examine whether treatment of depression represents a modifiable target for the high suicide rate in HD. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
ISSN:0885-3185
1531-8257
DOI:10.1002/mds.25980