Multidisciplinary approach

Benefits of a multidisciplinary care team

Since Huntington’s disease (HD) has such varied symptoms, it is important, when possible, for you to work closely with other healthcare professionals to create personalised care plans to address the diverse needs of individuals with HD.5,7

The goal of the multidisciplinary care team is to reduce the burden of symptoms, maximise function and optimise quality of life.26

Working with multidisciplinary care teams

Within your country, there may be dedicated centres where individuals with HD and their families can get the multidisciplinary support they need throughout the course of their disease.26

Find out if there is a HD specialist centre in your region:

EHDN find a clinic in Europe

HD clinics in Canada 

Care team members

Here are just some of the HD specialists who can help you treat individuals with HD and their specific needs.5,7

Core clinical care team

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Neurologists

Neurologists oversee the diagnosis, overall care coordination, neurological management and referrals to other team members during all stages of HD progression.26

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Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists work with individuals over the course of their disease, providing overall care coordination, psychiatric management, and medications, while helping them navigate the mental healthcare system.26

Allied support team

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Social workers

Social workers help individuals with everything from financial and insurance planning to connecting them with support groups and HD programmes. They also provide access to community services and help manage family conflicts in the later stages of HD.26

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Genetic counsellors

Genetic counsellors work in the early stages of HD, assisting individuals with genetic testing and family counselling.26

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Nurse specialists

Nurse specialists manage cases as well as provide telephone counselling and support for individuals with HD and their families.26  

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Dietitians

Dietitians work on healthy eating for HD. They make recommendations on calorie counts, food and liquid alterations, and assist with proper feeding tube supplements (if appropriate).26

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Physical therapists

Physical therapists develop exercise programmes and help with home preparedness and safety for the early stages of HD. As the disease progresses, they assess the need for assistive devices and the nonpharmacologic management of dystonia.26

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Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists, if appropriate, do an assessment of the individual’s workplace and their driving abilities in the early stages of HD. Once in the middle to late stages, they help with home safety, assessment of activities of daily living, and the equipment needed for seating, sleeping, feeding, hygiene, etc.26

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Neuropsychologists

Neuropsychologists oversee the management of symptoms related to personality and cognitive changes in individuals with HD. Their role ranges from counselling individuals about compensatory strategies to disability and competence assessments to family counselling in regard to cognitive changes.26

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Psychologists

Psychologists offer family support and counselling on matters relating to their relationships, grief and symptom management.26

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Speech and language therapists

Speech and language therapists will conduct a pre-emptive evaluation of swallow function and provide counselling about safe swallowing in the early stages of HD. As the disease progresses, they re-evaluate dysphagia, reassess speech and communication skills, and offer individual and family counselling (as needed).26

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