Psychopathological and emotional deficits in myotonic dystrophy

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate psychopathological disturbances in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) and compare patients with MD to both patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and healthy control subjects. METHODS—A semistructured interview was used to determine DSM III-R criteria for major depressive episodes, dysthymic episodes, and generalised anxiety. The Montgomery and Asberg and the Hamilton depressive scales, the Covi and Tyrer anxiety scales, the Abrams and Taylor scale for emotional blunting, and the depressive mood scale were all used in the study. Subjects were also asked to complete questionnaires for physical and social anhedonia. RESULTS—Fifteen patients with MD, 11 pat…