Understanding Huntington's Disease
Diagnosis Of Huntington's Disease

A preliminary diagnosis of Huntington's disease usually includes a general physical exam, a review of the patient's family's medical history, and answers to a series of questions including psychiatric and neurological examinations. In a psychiatric evaluation, a psychiatrist may ask questions regarding the patient's emotional state, patterns of behavior, coping skills, quality of judgment, any signs of disordered thinking, and substance abuse.
A neurological examination may consist of a series of simple tests to judge motor, sensory, psychological and neuropsychological symptoms. A brain imaging scan and genetic testing for the defective gene may also be recommended. If Huntington's disease exists as part of the family's medical history, but the patient has no symptoms, a predictive genetic test may be done. The results of a genetic predictive test have no treatment benefit, but some individuals prefer to know whether they will have the disease rather than live with the stress of not knowing.