Sj. Cina et al., DYADIC DEATHS INVOLVING HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE - A CASE-REPORT, The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, 17(1), 1996, pp. 49-52
Huntington's disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder charac
terized by involuntary choreiform movements and progressive dementia.
Although controversy exists regarding the exact risk of suicide in pat
ients with Huntington's chorea, the literature supports an increased r
isk of suicide, especially in the early stages of this disease. We des
cribe a case of homicide-suicide involving a father and son. The 60-ye
ar-old father, the homicide victim, suffered from advanced Huntington'
s disease; his 30-year-old son, the assailant, had a history of depres
sion but had not been diagnosed with Huntington's disease at the time
of his suicide. The psychiatric implications of this dementing disease
, including the risk of suicide, are discussed. The gross, histologic,
and molecular genetic features of this neurodegenerative disease are
also described. The recognition of this autosomal dominantly inherited
disorder at autopsy can make a profound impact on the lives of surviv
ing family members.