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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and... Sep 2023Reliably applied criteria to differentiate functional from primary tics are lacking. In the absence of biological markers, the development of new diagnostic criteria to...
BACKGROUND
Reliably applied criteria to differentiate functional from primary tics are lacking. In the absence of biological markers, the development of new diagnostic criteria to assist clinicians is predicated on expert judgement and consensus. This study examines the level of diagnostic agreement of experts in tic disorders using video footage and clinical descriptions.
METHODS
Using a two-part survey, eight experts in the diagnosis and management of tics were first asked to study 24 case videos of adults with primary tics, functional tics or both and to select a corresponding diagnosis. In the second part of the survey, additional clinical information was provided, and the diagnosis was then reconsidered. Inter-rater agreement was measured using Fleiss' kappa. In both study parts, the factors which influenced diagnostic decision-making and overall diagnostic confidence were reviewed.
RESULTS
Based on phenomenology alone, the diagnostic agreement among the expert raters was only fair for the pooled diagnoses (κ=0.21) as well as specifically for functional (κ=0.26) and primary tics (κ=0.24). Additional clinical information increased overall diagnostic agreement to moderate (κ=0.51) for both functional (κ=0.6) and primary tics (κ=0.57). The main factors informing diagnosis were tic semiology, age at tic onset, presence of premonitory urges, tic suppressibility, the temporal latency between tic onset and peak severity, precipitants and tic triggers and changes in the overall phenotypic presentation.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed that in the absence of clinical information, the diagnostic distinction between primary and functional tics is often difficult, even for expert clinicians.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Tics; Tourette Syndrome; Tic Disorders
PubMed: 37169545
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330822 -
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice Sep 2014Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a prototypical neuropsychiatric disorder breaking the boundary of disciplinary dualism between neurology and psychiatry. The... (Review)
Review
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a prototypical neuropsychiatric disorder breaking the boundary of disciplinary dualism between neurology and psychiatry. The diagnosis of GTS is clinical and, in most cases, straightforward. Tics as a hallmark of GTS are usually easy to recognize and distinguish from other movement disorders as fragmented, repetitive, exaggerated movements resembling normal motor behavior, but appearing out of context. In complex cases, knowledge on additional characteristics and signs as, for example, tic distribution, suggestibility, voluntary tic inhibition, and presence of echo- or paliphenomena might further aid clinical diagnosis. However, although defining GTS, tics are rarely the main issue. The presence of comorbidities and coexisting psychopathologies often hampers normal development and negatively affects quality of life. Their recognition and treatment is paramount. Here, we review existing literature and provide a comprehensive update on the multifarious aspects of the movement disorder and neuropsychiatry of GTS. We also provide a list of associated movement disorders known to occur in GTS patients and discuss differential diagnoses to be considered in atypical cases. We finally comment on available treatment options.
PubMed: 30363870
DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.12043 -
Behavior Therapy Nov 2022Tics peak in late childhood and decline during adolescence. Yet, for some with Tourette's disorder, tics persist into adulthood. We evaluated childhood predictors of... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Tics peak in late childhood and decline during adolescence. Yet, for some with Tourette's disorder, tics persist into adulthood. We evaluated childhood predictors of adult tic severity and tic impairment, and change over time. Eighty adolescents/adults were evaluated 11 years following a randomized-controlled trial of behavior therapy. An independent evaluator rated tic severity and tic impairment at baseline, posttreatment, and long-term follow-up. At baseline, parents completed demographics/medical history, and youth tic, internalizing, and externalizing symptom ratings. Youth rated premonitory urge severity and family functioning. After controlling for prior tic treatment effects, female sex and higher tic severity predicted higher tic severity in adulthood; and female sex, no stimulant medication use, higher tic severity, and poorer family functioning predicted higher tic impairment. Higher tic severity and premonitory urge severity predicted smaller reductions in tic severity, whereas higher externalizing symptoms predicted greater reduction in tic severity. Female sex predicted smaller reduction in tic impairment, and externalizing symptoms predicted greater reduction in tic impairment. Female sex and childhood tic severity are important predictors of tic severity and tic impairment in adulthood. Family functioning, premonitory urge severity, and tic severity are important modifiable targets for early or targeted intervention to improve long-term outcomes.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Behavior Therapy; Child; Female; Humans; Severity of Illness Index; Tic Disorders; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 36229120
DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2022.07.002 -
Journal of Clinical Psychology Jul 2022This study examined sleep disorders and sleep medication use rates, nighttime tics, and sleep and chronotype in relation to tic and co-occurring symptoms in adults with...
OBJECTIVE
This study examined sleep disorders and sleep medication use rates, nighttime tics, and sleep and chronotype in relation to tic and co-occurring symptoms in adults with persistent tic disorders (PTDs), including Tourette's disorder (TD).
METHODS
One hundred twenty-five adult internet survey respondents rated sleep history, sleep, chronotype, tic severity, impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety, depression, and emotional and behavioral dyscontrol.
RESULTS
Bruxism, insomnia, tic-related difficulty falling asleep, and melatonin use were commonly endorsed. Sleep disturbance correlated with impairment, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and emotional and behavioral dyscontrol. Eveningness correlated with vocal and total tic severity only in TD. Controlling for age and sex, age, impairment, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms predicted sleep disturbance, and age and tic severity predicted chronotype.
CONCLUSIONS
Impairment and obsessive-compulsive symptoms play a role in sleep disturbance in adults with PTDs, and may be intervention targets. Eveningness relates to tic severity, which may suggest the utility of interventions to advance chronotype.
Topics: Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Sleep; Tic Disorders; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 35150595
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23323 -
Current Neuropharmacology 2019While Behavioral Therapy (BT) should be recommended as the first step in the treatment of OCD as well as TS, medication can be added for augmentation and in certain... (Review)
Review
While Behavioral Therapy (BT) should be recommended as the first step in the treatment of OCD as well as TS, medication can be added for augmentation and in certain situations (e.g. family preference, BT not available or feasible) the priority may even reverse. This narrative review is given on the complexity of drug treatment in patients comorbid with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS) and other tic problems. OCD with TS is a co-occurring combination of the two generally delimitable, but in detail, also overlapping disorders which wax and wane with time but have different courses as well as necessities and options of treatment. Distinct subtypes like "tic-related OCD" are questionable. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and tics are frequently associated (OCS in TS up to 90%, tics in OCD up to 37%). Sensory-motor phenomena like urges and just-right feelings reflect some behavioral overlap. The main additional psychopathologies are attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood problems and anxiety. Also, hair pulling disorder and skin picking disorder are related to OCD with TS. Hence, the assessment and drug treatment of its many psychopathological problems need high clinical experience, careful planning, and ongoing evaluation/adaptation. Drugs are able to reduce clinical symptoms but cannot cure the disorders, which should be treated in parallel in their own right; i.e. for OCD serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and for TS (tics), certain antipsychotics can be successfully prescribed. In cases of OCD with tics, when OCS responds only partially, an augmentation with antipsychotics (recommended: risperidone and aripiprazole) may improve OCS as well as tics. Also, the benzamide sulpiride, an atypical antipsychotics, may be beneficial in treating the combination of OCS, tics and anxious-depressive problems. Probably, any additional psychopathologies of OCD might attenuate the effectiveness of SSRI on OCS; on the other hand, in cases of OCD with tics, SSRI may reduce not only OCS but also stress sensitivity and emotional problems and thus leading to better selfregulatory abilities, useful to improve tic suppression. In sum, some clinical guidance can be given, but there remain many uncertainties because of a scarce database for psychopharmacotherapy in OCD with TS.
Topics: Anxiety; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Comorbidity; Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 30152283
DOI: 10.2174/1570159X16666180828095131 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2022Premonitory urges preceding tics are a cardinal feature of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), a developmental disorder usually starting during middle childhood....
Premonitory urges preceding tics are a cardinal feature of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), a developmental disorder usually starting during middle childhood. However, the temporal relation between urges and tics has only been investigated in adults. In 25 children and adolescents with GTS (8-18 years), we assess urge-tic associations, including inter-individual differences, correlation to clinical measures, and in comparison to a previously reported sample of adult GTS patients. Group-level analyses confirmed positive associations between urges and tics. However, at the individual level, less than half of participants showed positive associations, a similar proportion did not, and in two participants, the association was reversed. Tic expression and subjective urge levels correlated with corresponding clinical scores and participants with more severe tics during the urge monitor exhibited stronger urge-tic associations. Associations between reported urge levels and instantaneous tic intensity tended to be less pronounced in children and adolescents than in adult GTS patients. The observed heterogeneity of urge-tic associations cast doubt on the notion that tics are directly caused by urges. More severe tics may facilitate anticipation of tics and thereby lead to more pronounced urge-tic associations, consistent with a hypothesis of urges as a byproduct of tics.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Emotions; Humans; Severity of Illness Index; Tic Disorders; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 36163482
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19685-5 -
Current Opinion in Genetics &... Jun 2011Tourette disorder (TD) is a childhood onset neuropsychiatric syndrome defined by persistent motor and vocal tics. Despite a long-standing consensus for a strong genetic... (Review)
Review
Tourette disorder (TD) is a childhood onset neuropsychiatric syndrome defined by persistent motor and vocal tics. Despite a long-standing consensus for a strong genetic contribution, the pace of discovery compared to other disorders of similar prevalence has been slow, due in part to a paucity of studies and both clinical heterogeneity and a complex genetic architecture. However, the potential for rapid progress is high. Recent rare variant findings have pointed to the importance of copy number variation, the overlap of risks among distinct diagnostic entities, the contribution of novel molecular mechanisms, and the value of family based studies. Finally, analysis of a cohort of sufficient size to identify common polymorphisms of plausible effect is underway, promising key information regarding the contribution of common alleles to TD.
Topics: Chromosome Aberrations; DNA Copy Number Variations; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Linkage; Humans; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 21277193
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2011.01.007 -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Sep 2022Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic tic disorder characterized by both motor and vocal tics. The vast majority of patients present with co-morbid behavioral problems,... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic tic disorder characterized by both motor and vocal tics. The vast majority of patients present with co-morbid behavioral problems, especially tic-related obsessive-compulsive behaviors and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Evidence-based guidelines on the pharmacotherapy of TS have become available in recent years.
AREAS COVERED
The main purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current and emerging pharmacotherapeutic strategies for TS. A comprehensive search for the literature on the pharmacotherapy of tics was conducted using multiple databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), without date limits.
EXPERT OPINION
In consideration of the heterogeneity of the TS phenotypes, pharmacotherapy should be tailored to the individual patient. The choice of the pharmacological agent should take into account both the efficacy-to-tolerability ratio and the presence of co-morbid conditions. Evidence-based pharmacotherapy should aim at improving health-related quality life within a dynamic framework that typically requires active monitoring of the clinical presentation and reevaluation of the treatment intervention over time.
Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Humans; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Tic Disorders; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 35913140
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2107902 -
Journal of Child Psychology and... Mar 2022Children with Tourette syndrome (TS) often have comorbid disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)....
BACKGROUND
Children with Tourette syndrome (TS) often have comorbid disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While subtle premorbid symptoms have been described in various psychiatric disorders, the presence of clinical precursors that may exist before the onset of tics is unknown. This longitudinal study aimed to find clinical precursors of tics by assessing a range of clinical characteristics prior to tic onset in comparison with children without onset of tics.
METHODS
A sample of 187 3- to 10-year-old first-degree unaffected relatives of children with TS were followed up to 7 years in the European Multicentre Tics in Children Study (EMTICS). We investigated whether clinical characteristics assessed at baseline predicted tic onset, comparing 126 children without tic onset to 61 children who developed tics. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method, a penalised logistic regression approach. We also explored sex differences and repeated our analyses in an age- and sex-matched subsample.
RESULTS
Children with tic onset were more frequently male (β = -0.36), had higher baseline severity of conduct problems (β = 0.23), autism spectrum disorder symptoms (ASD; β = 0.08), compulsions (β = 0.02) and emotional problems (β = 0.03) compared to children without tic onset. Conduct and ASD problems were male-specific predictors, whereas severity of compulsions and oppositional (β = 0.39) and emotional problems were female-specific predictors.
CONCLUSION
This study supports the presence of clinical precursors prior to tic onset and highlights the need of sex-specific monitoring of children at risk of developing tics. This may aid in the earlier detection of tics, particularly in females. We moreover found that tics most often persisted one year after tic onset, in contrast to the common belief that tics are mostly transient.
Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Tic Disorders; Tics; Tourette Syndrome
PubMed: 34170010
DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13472