Suicidality Risk Factors Across the CARE-HD, 2CARE, and CREST-E Clinical Trials in Huntington Disease

Neurol Clin Pract. 2022 Apr;12(2):131-138. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001161.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Suicidality is a common concern in the routine care of persons with Huntington disease (HD) and for the many participants in HD clinical trials. In a previous analysis, we identified baseline and time-dependent factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempts from 2CARE, a large, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Methods: The present analysis extends our prior methodology to 2 other large interventional HD clinical trials, CARE-HD and CREST-E.

Results: We observed relationships across studies between suicidality events and prior suicidal ideation at baseline, antidepressant/anxiolytic use, chorea, increasing age, and several domains in the Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Behavioral Assessment (depressed mood, low self-esteem, aggression, and active suicidality).

Discussion: These data may form the basis for a subscale of demographic and UHDRS items with the potential for prospectively identifying suicidality risk in HD clinics and clinical trials.

Trial registration information: 2CARE and CREST are registered at clinicaltrials.gov. 2CARE NCT00608881, registered February 6, 2008; first enrollment March 2008. CREST-E NCT00712426, registered July 10, 2008; first enrollment September 2009. CARE-HD, not registered; first enrollment July 1997.

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00608881
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00712426