Research Frontiers

Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence

Clinical Programs

The Baltimore Huntington's Disease Center is the only HDSA Center of Excellence based in a psychiatry department (instead of a neurology department) of a medical school or hospital. As such, the Center can pay special and expert attention to treating the psychiatric and psychosocial aspects of the disease, for which we now often have effective symptomatic treatment. However research focuses mostly on brain imaging, neurobiology, genetic mouse models and other basic science, and clinical trials of new therapeutic agents. For more information on the symptoms of HD, click here.

Ms. Debbie Pollard is the clinic coordinator at the BHDC, and she helps patients when they first come to the Center. Ms. Pollard performs full physical exams for each patient to initially determine what symptoms they have, takes a full family and personal health history, and helps to generally guide patients as to how the center works and what services they provide.

The Center runs two separate multidisciplinary clinical programs to provide services to incoming HD patients. Additionally, there are related social services (such as community resource referrals and housing assistance) available in both programs. Confidentiality is strictly upheld in all cases and practices.

One of the clinical programs is an "Evaluation and Research" program, which runs every Tuesday from 1-4pm. The program is over 25 years old, and is supported by the HDSA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thanks to these research grants, all of the services are (presently) provided with no charge. Patients can either make an appointment to come in on their own, or they may be referred to the Center by other physicians or neurologists in the area. At the first meeting, a number of neurological and psychiatric evaluative tests are conducted in addition to the detailed medical and family history that Ms. Pollard takes. Individuals who do not know if they have the altered huntingtin gene, but are presenting some of the symptoms of HD, can take a genetic test for HD (or other potential neurodegenerative disorders) if they so wish. Other staff members of the BHDC may see the patients for follow up services like consultations, case management (including symptomatic treatments for chorea or anti-psychotics if appropriate), counseling, and referrals if it is necessary.

The second clinical program offered at the Baltimore Huntington's Disease Center is the "Continuing Care Program". This program offers ongoing medical care for HD patients, as well as counseling and social services for them and their families. The primary purpose of the clinic is to treat and manage HD symptoms through medication, counseling, and to help patients to adjust their environmental surroundings. Patients can be referred to see staff members at the center who serve as neuro-psychiatrist specialists, social workers, or be referred for occupational therapy and speech therapy. The goal of the staff is to work with patients and their families to develop a tailored program for care. As opposed to the "Research and Evaluation" program, services from this program must be paid for, but health insurance is accepted when it applies. However, a generous grant from the HDSA allows the BHDC to charge for services based on the patient's ability to pay and provide services for free to individuals that cannot otherwise afford it.

The clinic also conducts genetic tests for family members of those with HD who want to know their gene status. Genetic testing is a serious issue, and should only be undertaken after much consideration and counseling- for more information about genetic testing for Huntington's Disease, please click here. They also offer counseling to many asymptomatic individuals who have the altered HD gene, in order to help them adjust to the kinds of lifestyle changes they can anticipate when symptoms begin to appear. Ms. Pollard emphasizes that as a Center of Excellence, the clinic is open to anyone regardless of the ability to pay, so anyone may come in for these services.

Last Modified: 11/04/2007

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