High suicidal ideation in persons testing for Huntington's disease

This study examined the first participants who registered for the Huntingto n's disease predictive testing program 1990-1995 in Stockholm, Sweden. A ps ychosocial investigation was performed to evaluate potential effects of the presymptomatic testing. The results showed no significant differences betw een 13 genecarriers and 21 noncarriers in pretest attitudes, expectations, general well-being, life satisfaction and lifestyle, the need for support, estimated sense of well-being or degree of health. However, both groups sho wed high suicidal ideation and self-injurious behavior. Noncarriers had a v ery high frequency of attempted suicide, and both groups had similarly pron ounced psychiatric dysfunction. Their relatives also had high frequencies o f psychiatric diseases, suicide or suicidal attempts. Most of the participa nts had a desire to meet a psychologist or a social worker. The need for co unseling, using a well designed protocol, and the importance of focusing on suicide risk of participants in predictive testing programs is emphasized.