Suicidality in Huntington's disease

BackgroundIn 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.MethodsSuicidality 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.ResultsEleven (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.LimitationsSelection bias might have occurred which could have affected the suicidality rate.ConclusionIt 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.