Evaluation of Three Tests to Assess Social Cognition in Huntington Disease

NCT07253038 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-04424-01
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the usefulness of a test of social functioning in persons with Huntington disease. Huntington disease affects motor function, psychological well-being and cognitive functions ("thinking abilities" such as paying attention, remembering and solving problems). It is also believed to affect important social functions, including the ability to understand others' intentions and emotions (social cognition). The test of interest in this study is called The Double Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition-Multiple Choice (DMASC-MC) and will be compared to two other similar and well-known tests. The main question which the study aims to answer is: • Is DMASC-MC a useful tool for detecting problems with social functioning in adult persons with early Huntington disease? In the study, participants will meet with a medical doctor and a psychologist for assessment of different symptoms related to Huntington disease, including social functioning. Better methods for identifying problems with social functioning could help persons with Huntington disease and their families in mainly two ways. Firstly, it could increase their understanding of how the disease has affected them. Secondly, a better understanding of these problems could lead to better recommendations and interventions from medical teams, which would also benefit persons with Huntington disease and families.

Conditions

Huntington Disease

Keywords

social cognition; apathy; cognition; depression; total functional capacity; total motor score

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Significant difference in mean value of "Double Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition-Multiple Choice" (DMASC-MC) total score between HD and controls

  To investigate if persons with HD have a significantly lower score than a control group in the test "Double Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition-Multiple Choice" (DMASC-MC)". DMASC-MC: Minimum value 0, maximum value 44, higher scores mean a better outcome.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Significant difference in mean value of Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) total score between HD and controls

  Baseline

• Significant difference in mean value of Emotional Hexagon Test (EHT) total score between HD and controls

  Baseline

• Significant correlation between social cognitive test scores and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scores

  Baseline

• Significant correlation between social cognitive test scores and total functional capacity (TFC) scores

  Baseline

• Significant correlation between social cognitive test scores and CAG-Age-Product (CAP) scores

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Huntington disease

Participants with early Huntington disease

Controls

Participants with no heritage of HD or negative pre-symptomatic HD gene test

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Recruitment of participants will be made at the HD clinic in Lund, Sweden and through ethical review board-approved advertisment material posted at social media platforms and websites hosted by the Huntingtoncenter at Lund and the Swedish patient organization Riksförbundet för Huntingtons sjukdom (RHS) as well as YTAN.

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of HD
• CAG repeat: 40 and more
• \. No heritage of HD or negative pre-symptomatic HD gene test

You may not qualify if:

• Participants in both groups are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
• Dementia or MOCA\<19, The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) \<19
• Other neurological disorders
• Ongoing psychosis
• Ongoing alcohol/drug addiction
• Other native language than Swedish
• Severe problems with vision and hearing

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Region Skane: lead

Study Sites (1)

Skane University Hospital, Region Skane

Lund, 22184, Sweden

RECRUITING

Related Links

• Home page for the Huntington Disease Center at Region Skate

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Huntington Disease; Lethargy; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Dementia; Chorea; Dyskinesias; Movement Disorders; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Asa Petersen, MD PhD

  Department of Psychiatry, Skåne University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Asa Petersen, MD, PhD

CONTACT

+46462221686; asa.petersen@med.lu.se

Isak Halling, MSc

CONTACT

+4646178188; isak.halling@skane.se

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: November 28, 2025
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Last Updated: March 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)