Keith Andrews

Late Stage Huntington's Disease: Effect of Treating Specific Disabilities

Huntingtons disease is an hereditary degenerative condition resulting, eventually, in physical and mental, behavioural and emotional disability. Four severely affected patients were included in a multiple-baseline, single-case experimental design study to test the hypothesis that occupational therapy for specific activities would Improve function in those activities. There was no evidence of improvement resulting from specific treatment of activities over the 8-month observation period. However, only one patient deteriorated and, therefore it is possible that the occupational therapy input had a generalised effect In preventing the deterioration of activities, it is concluded that, in the severe form of Huntingtons disease, intensive therapy for specific activities does not result in Improvement and that a more general programme may be more productive.

Old Age: Incontinence of Urine

Incontinence of the urine must by one of the most embarrassing conditions for patient, family and staff that we come across in the care of the elderly. This condition inhibits normal social communication and causes depression and guilt feelings. It is, moreover, in most cases a manageable condition. As in any other symptom we can only treat when we know the cause: catheterisation is not the treatment of first choice though so often this is the immediate response.