Disocijativna amnezija s obilježjima fuge kod bolesnika s Huntingtonovom bolešću

Abstract

Huntington's disease is a severe, incurable neurological disease characterised by motor, cognitive, andpsychological symptoms. This paper presents the case of a Huntington's disease patient with dissociativesymptoms. Clinical characteristics, genetic background, diagnostics, and guidelines for treatingHuntington's disease are shown in the paper. We emphasised the importance of knowing the genetic basisand testing the descendants of the patients. We highlighted the difference between behaviouralperseveration as a common psychomotor disorder in these patients and symptoms of obsessive-compulsivedisorders.Dissociative disorders may occur under extreme mental stress and exhaustion, such as when dealingwith a severe incurable illness. These disorders are not typical psychopathological phenomena forHuntington's disease, but conditions of hopelessness and despair after facing a severe diagnosis may leadto dissociative symptoms. Dissociative disorders as indicators of exhaustion of mental functioning requirecaution, especially given their high frequency of occurrence with suicidality as extreme exhaustion ofmental functioning.So far, treatment of Huntington's disease is only symptomatic, emphasising the relaxation of motorchoreatic movements and heterogeneous mental disorders. Antipsychotics that reduce choreatic movementsbut also affect psychotic symptoms, behavioural perseverations and mood stabilisation are used primarilyto relieve symptoms.As it is a progressive disease that ends in severe motor deficit, dementia and death, treating these patientswith a multidisciplinary team that includes neurological, psychiatric and palliative care, physical therapy,nursing, and social care is necessary. Psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic approaches make it easier forpatients and their families to cope with this severe disease. Genetic testing of the offspring is desirable todetermine the potential carrying of the mutated gene and its transmission to subsequent generations inwhich the disease appears earlier.