Hold me tight: a relationship enhancement program for couples with a future of Huntington’s disease

A positive predictive genetic test for Huntington’s disease (HD) can be a life-changing event for both carriers and their partners, leading to an increased number of separation and divorce in this population as well as lower wellbeing and resilience. The “Hold me Tight” program (HmT), an emotionally focused couples’ therapy, aims at strengthening the couple bond by targeting attachment needs. In this study, we apply the HmT program to presymptomatic HD gene mutation carriers and their partners. To this end, we included 15 couples in a stepped wedge design using 3 baselines of varying length and 17 measurements in total. Our intervention consisted of 4 sessions spanning over 4 weeks, with measurements before, during, and after the intervention. We assessed relationship satisfaction and wellbeing self-report measures on a weekly basis, while resilience data was assessed at the beginning and the end only, and attachment style was assessed only at the beginning. We conducted a multi...Show moreA positive predictive genetic test for Huntington’s disease (HD) can be a life-changing event for both carriers and their partners, leading to an increased number of separation and divorce in this population as well as lower wellbeing and resilience. The “Hold me Tight” program (HmT), an emotionally focused couples’ therapy, aims at strengthening the couple bond by targeting attachment needs. In this study, we apply the HmT program to presymptomatic HD gene mutation carriers and their partners. To this end, we included 15 couples in a stepped wedge design using 3 baselines of varying length and 17 measurements in total. Our intervention consisted of 4 sessions spanning over 4 weeks, with measurements before, during, and after the intervention. We assessed relationship satisfaction and wellbeing self-report measures on a weekly basis, while resilience data was assessed at the beginning and the end only, and attachment style was assessed only at the beginning. We conducted a multi-level model on the data. Over the course of the study, wellbeing (𝑏 = −0.0075, 𝑝 = .001) and relationship satisfaction (𝑏 = 0.31, 𝑝 < .0001) improved, but resilience did not. Furthermore, all three outcome measures were moderated by secure attachment style. In conclusion, HmT improved the wellbeing and relationship satisfaction of couples with a future of Huntington’s Disease. Due to the improvements in these measures and high patient acceptability rates, we think this intervention could become a standardized procedure in regular HD care.Show less

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Hold me tight: a relationship enhancement program for couples with a future of Huntington’s disease