Huntington's disease can be identified with a DNA test but testing procedures are stringent, and most centers require a consultation with a neurologist, geneticist and psychiatrist so that the person will have as much support as possible while going through the testing period and be counseled for a positive or negative result. Many pHDs do not know what is wrong and will chalk it up to stress, lack of sleep or depression. Families usually agree and indeed these are the very first symptoms of HD and serve also to make the disease worse. Some pHDs will experience severe rage or inappropriate behavior in situations, paranoia and on rare occasions, hallucinations. Nervousness and anxiety are common during the early stages of Huntington's.
Depression is the main cause of emotional problems in pHD's and can easily be treated.
Left untreated, the pHD gets worse and can show signs of paranoia, withdrawal from society and inappropriate social and sexual behavior. Many of these emotional symptoms create other problems and a circle of emotional grief. Lack of self-esteem, the sense of loss of one's control over one's life, and becoming more and more dependant on others serves to rid the person of their sense of pride and can cause a depressive state in itself. It is at this time of the pHD's life where difficulties on the job occur, difficulties remembering names, numbers, sequences, directions, etc. can cause lower performance on the job and often result in loss of jobs or demotions. As the disease progress, the pHD finds it increasingly challenging to follow instructions, to be organized, plan ahead and keep track of themselves.