Intensive Outpatient Treatment of Depression ina Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 Patient

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is but one subtype of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), each of which can possibly beconsidered a separate neurological condition (N. Whaley, S. Fujioka, Z. K. Wszolek, 2011). SCA is hereditary, progressive, anddegenerative. SCA1 symptoms initially include coordination problems and ataxia. SCA1 can also include speech and swallowingdifficulties, spasticity, ophthalmoplegia, cognitive difficulties, and even sensory neuropathy, dystonia, atrophy, and fasciculations.Literature has established that depressive symptoms can be exhibited with spinocerebellar ataxia patients regardless of type (T.Schmitz-H ̈ubsch, 2011). While a higher risk for depression occurs with more severe SCA disease, successful treatment to mitigatesymptoms has been documented (N. Okamoto, M. Ogawa, Y. Murata, et al., 2010). In this case a SCA1 patient with advancedneurological disease was enrolled in a psychiatric intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment program in the midwestern United Statesto address his comorbid depressive symptoms. This treatmentoption allowed a less restrictive environment while providing amore structured therapeutic setting and social support for the patient, much more so than that which is typically offered in atraditional outpatient setting.Case Report.A patient with relatively advanced SCA1 successfully participated in a psychiatric IOPprogram or depressive symptoms and benefitted from the program’s structure and additional psychosocial support.Conclusion.Awareness among physicians, particularly psychiatrists and neurologists, regarding IOP programs as a treatment option forcomorbid depression in the clinical setting of progressive SCA or other neurological conditions can be beneficial to patientsrequiring an increased level of psychiatric treatment.