Insight into the psychosocial aspects of Huntington's disease in Chinese society.

OBJECTIVE

To review the psychosocial aspects of Chinese families with Huntington's disease (HD) in Hong Kong.

METHOD

The psychosocial aspects of five Chinese families in Hong Kong were studied with in-depth interviews and detailed analysis of case records.

RESULTS

Patients with HD are found to suffer from certain specific psychosocial adversities, including marital disharmony, social stigma and increased suicidal risk in those with relatively well-preserved cognitive function. A low request rate for presymptomatic testing for HD is also observed among these cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Though the genetic defect in HD is universal and cuts across cultures, the problems faced by these patients and their families are never the same. Despite limited local experience due to a much lower prevalence, Chinese HD patients in Hong Kong are found to have specific needs that emerge from their ethno-historical background.