A client diagnosed with Huntington's disease has developed severe depression. What would be most important for the nurse to assess for?

Question

A) Loss of bowel and bladder control
B) Choreiform movements
C) Suicidal ideations
D) Emotional apathy

Answer 1

C
Feedback:
Severe depression is common and can lead to suicide, so it is most important for the nurse to assess for suicidal ideations. Symptoms of Huntington's disease develop slowly and include mental apathy and emotional disturbances, choreiform movements (uncontrollable writhing and twisting of the body), grimacing, difficulty chewing and swallowing, speech difficulty, intellectual decline, and loss of bowel and bladder control. Assessing for these symptoms is appropriate but not as important as assessing for suicidal ideations.