Cognitive and Psychiatric Symptoms Between Huntington´s Disease Patients With and Without Motor Symptoms, a Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Study

Nugteren, Anouck (2024) Cognitive and Psychiatric Symptoms Between Huntington´s Disease Patients With and Without Motor Symptoms, a Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Study. Master thesis, Psychology.

Text Thesis-Anouck-Nugteren-3513459.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (372kB)

Abstract

Objective. This study aims to compare cognitive and psychiatric symptoms between Huntington's Disease (HD) patients with and without motor symptoms at onset and to assess the progression of the cognitive symptoms over 3 years’ time and psychiatric symptoms over 1.5 years' time. Method. Participants were included from a longitudinal cohort of HD gene expansion carriers (HDGECs) between 2018 and 2024 (Huntington Outpatient Clinic Friesma State). Data were collected using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX), and EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D). Participants were categorised into two groups according to information obtained from their medical files: those with motor symptoms (motor group) and those without (non-motor group) at their initial visit. Statistical analyses included ANOVA/ANCOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H tests for between-group comparisons and RM ANOVA/RM ANCOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H tests on the change scores for within-subject comparisons. Results. The study included 60 participants, with a mean age of 57 years. Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences in cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, with age as a covariate for MoCA and EQ-5D scores. Within-subject comparisons indicated a non-significant decline in cognitive functioning over 3 years’ time. It also indicated a non-significant decline in anxiety symptoms, and quality of life over time in both groups, and no changes in depression, over 1.5 years. Conclusion. The severity and progression of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms did not differ significantly between HDGECs with and without motor symptoms when age was considered. These results underscore the importance of regular monitoring for cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in all HDGECs, irrespective of motor symptom onset.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Rakers, S.E. and Coenen, M.A.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2024 13:30
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2024 13:30
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4068

Actions (login required)

View Item