Author Profile

Kjell Haavik Nilsen

Affiliation: Vikersund Kurbad Rehabiltation Centre, Vikersund, Norway

1970 qualified medical doctor University og Oslo (cand med - MD) 1975 admitted Member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (MRACP) 1976 admitted Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) 1975-77 Research fellow rheumatologi and Sernior House Officer Univeristy of Bristol, UK 1978-1979 Senior lecturer and Consultant physiciand, Salford, Universit of Mancheser, UK 1979-80 Rhumatology Fellow Betanien Hopsital, Skien, Norway Since 1980 Consultant Rehumatologist, Vikersund Rehabilitation Centre, Norway Have published about 40 research papers in national and international literature on internal medicine, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Author and co-author of books about Raynauds phenomenon and Osteoporosis 1983 awarden the international Volvo Prize for the best back pain research paper that year 2008 awarded the Norwegian Kings Gold Medal for outstanding work for the rheumatic patients

Recent Posts

Effects of a One Year Intensive Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Huntington’s Disease: a Prospective Intervention Study

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Objective: To assess the effects of an intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for patients with early to mid-stage Huntington’s disease.

Design: A prospective intervention study.

Setting: Two Norwegian inpatient rehabilitation centers.

Subjects: 37 patients, with early- to midstage Huntington’s disease

Interventions: A one year rehabilitation program, consisting of three admissions of three weeks each, and a five-day evaluation stay approximately 3 months after the last rehabilitation admission. Focus was on physical exercise, social activities, and group/teaching sessions. There was also emphasis to implement of coordinated health care and social services for the patients.

Main outcome measures: standard measures for motor function, including gait and balance, cognitive function, including MMSE and UHDRS cognitive assessment, anxiety and depression, activities of daily living (ADL), health related quality of life and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Results: Significant improvements were observed in gait function, balance, in physical quality of life, anxiety and depression, as well as in BMI. ADL-function remained stable with no significant decline. Only one cognitive measure (SDMT) showed significant decline, while no decline was observed for the remaining cognitive measures.

Conclusion: A multidisciplinary intensive rehabilitation program in patients with early and mid stage HD is associated with improved balance, gait function, physical quality of life and with reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms. Longer follow-up is needed to assess if these positive effects are sustained. There should be emphasis to establishment of long term and coordinated health care services for the HD patient