The Phenotype and Aetiological Correlates of Depression in Huntington’s Disease

Depression affects many people with Huntington’s disease (HD), and is linked to worse outcomes in people with HD. This thesis examined the unique characteristics and factors associated with depression in HD. Adults with HD completed an interview exploring their experience of depression, rated their mood daily for 28 consecutive days, completed questionnaires related to mood, stress, and daily functioning, and provided hair and blood samples. Results from this thesis improve knowledge of the unique symptoms and causes of depression in HD, and have important implications for the description, assessment, and treatment of depression in this disease.