Abstract
Chronic tic disorders (TD) are consistently found to have high rates of comorbidity with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)
and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study is to compare the severity of TD only to TD
with comorbid OCD or ADHD based on severity of tics, measures of psychopathology and additional comorbid diagnoses. Baseline
data from 158 youth with a chronic TD who participated in two longitudinal studies were examined. Fifty-three percent (N = 85) of the youth also met criteria for a diagnosis of OCD, 38.6 % (n = 61) met criteria for ADHD and 24.1 % (N = 38) met criteria for both. Measures of interest addressed severity of tics, symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, psychosocial
stress, global functioning and the presence of comorbid diagnoses. Youth with comorbid TD and OCD were characterized by more
severe tics, increased levels of depressive and anxious symptoms, heightened psychosocial stress and poorer global functioning.
Youth with comorbid TD and ADHD did not differ from those with TD alone on measures of tic severity, but experienced greater
psychosocial stress and poorer global functioning. Subjects with comorbid TD and OCD had more internalizing disorders than
those without OCD, while those with comorbid ADHD were more likely to meet criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. TD
with OCD is a more severe subtype of TD than TD without OCD. TD with ADHD is associated with higher psychosocial stress and
more externalizing behaviors. Further research is needed into the underlying relationships between these closely associated
conditions.
and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study is to compare the severity of TD only to TD
with comorbid OCD or ADHD based on severity of tics, measures of psychopathology and additional comorbid diagnoses. Baseline
data from 158 youth with a chronic TD who participated in two longitudinal studies were examined. Fifty-three percent (N = 85) of the youth also met criteria for a diagnosis of OCD, 38.6 % (n = 61) met criteria for ADHD and 24.1 % (N = 38) met criteria for both. Measures of interest addressed severity of tics, symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, psychosocial
stress, global functioning and the presence of comorbid diagnoses. Youth with comorbid TD and OCD were characterized by more
severe tics, increased levels of depressive and anxious symptoms, heightened psychosocial stress and poorer global functioning.
Youth with comorbid TD and ADHD did not differ from those with TD alone on measures of tic severity, but experienced greater
psychosocial stress and poorer global functioning. Subjects with comorbid TD and OCD had more internalizing disorders than
those without OCD, while those with comorbid ADHD were more likely to meet criteria for oppositional defiant disorder. TD
with OCD is a more severe subtype of TD than TD without OCD. TD with ADHD is associated with higher psychosocial stress and
more externalizing behaviors. Further research is needed into the underlying relationships between these closely associated
conditions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0278-5
- Authors
- Eli R. Lebowitz, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Maria G. Motlagh, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Liliya Katsovich, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Robert A. King, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Paul J. Lombroso, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Heidi Grantz, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Haiqun Lin, Yale University, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Mary Jane Bentley, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Donald L. Gilbert, Division of Neurology at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Medical School, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Harvey S. Singer, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Barbara J. Coffey, Child Study Center at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- the Tourette Syndrome Study Group
- Roger M. Kurlan, Atlantic Neuroscience Institute, Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ, USA
- James F. Leckman, Yale Child Study Center, 230 South Frontage Rd, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827