Rapid improvement of depression and psychotic symptoms in Huntington's disease: a retrospective chart review of seven patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy.

Abstract Many patients with Huntington's disease (HD) develop psychiatric symptoms such as depression and psychosis. For severe symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a valuable treatment. In this case series, we identified seven patients with HD who received ECT at Massachusetts General Hospital in the past 20 years. In all cases, ECT was well tolerated and produced improvement in psychiatric and behavioral symptoms. Our case series supports the hypothesis of a positive risk–benefit ratio for ECT in patients with HD and severe depression or psychosis.