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Factors predicting discharge of Huntington's disease patients from a neuropsychiatry unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2010

Akshya Vasudev ,
Tracy Palmer ,
Alan Thomas ,
David Burn  and
William Barker
Akshya Vasudev*
Affiliation:
Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Tracy Palmer
Affiliation:
Walkergate Park for Neurorehabilitation and Neuropsychiatry, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Alan Thomas
Affiliation:
Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
David Burn
Affiliation:
Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
William Barker
Affiliation:
Walkergate Park for Neurorehabilitation and Neuropsychiatry, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Akshya Vasudev, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, U.K. Phone: +44 (0)191 4455212; Fax: +44 (0)191 4456685. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: We explored phenotypic parameters of people with Huntington's disease who had been admitted to a psychiatric unit and then discharged, with a view to determining prognostic factors for discharge to higher levels of care.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 19 patients admitted to a psychiatric unit with Huntington's disease. Data on the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) of behavior and function, global assessment of presence of depression and dementia as well as discharge outcomes were collated. Appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were applied.

Results: Fourteen patients were discharged to accommodation with the same level of care versus five who were discharged to a higher level of care. Having poor functioning in terms of activities of daily living predicted discharge to an increased level of care. Being depressed or having dementia did not forecast poor outcome. The total duration of admission was not related to UHDRS parameters.

Conclusions: Poor functioning on admission independently predicts the need for higher levels of care for patients who are admitted to a neuropsychiatric ward.

Keywords

Huntington's diseaseneuropsychiatrydementiadepressiondischarge
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , May 2010 , pp. 489 - 492
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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