ECT AS A TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION IN HUNTINGTONS-DISEASE

The authors review the records of 6 patients with Huntington's disease (HD) who received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression. Fiv e patients met criteria for major depression and 1 for bipolar disorde r, depressed. None of the patients had responded to pharmacologic inte rvention, and 5 improved after ECT treatment. The 2 patients who had p rominent delusions showed the greatest improvement. Apathy, and to som e extent irritability, responded less well. One patient developed deli rium, and the movement disorder worsened in another patient. ECT shoul d be a treatment option in the management of depression in Huntington' s disease, particularly when depression is resistant to pharmacologic treatment.