Which of the following is TRUE regarding Huntington's disease (HD) neuropsychiatric manifestations?

• A Psychiatric symptoms always follow motor symptoms
• B Psychosis is the predominant feature in >80% of HD patients
• C Cognitive decline in HD is cortical with prominent amnesia
• D Depression and irritability are common and may precede motor symptoms by years ✓

Explanation

Huntington's disease produces a 'subcortical dementia' pattern (impaired executive function, psychomotor slowing, frontal-subcortical dysfunction) rather than cortical amnesia. Psychiatric manifestations — depression, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and OCD-like features — are extremely common (up to 80% of patients) and frequently precede motor symptoms (chorea) by many years; this is a critical NEET point. Psychosis occurs but is not the predominant feature. Suicidality is significantly elevated in HD gene carriers even before symptom onset.

Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.