Impact of obsessive–compulsive symptoms in Tourette's syndrome on neuropsychological performance

Abstract

Aim: Although inconsistencies in neuropsychological impairments in Tourette's syndrome (TS) have been discussed with respect to comorbid disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, few studies have focused on the specific dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) related to TS, such as aggression and symmetry. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of specific TS-related OCS on neuropsychological performance.Methods: A series of neuropsychological tasks examining attention and executive functioning were performed in groups of 33 TS participants and 18 healthy controls. The neuropsychological performance of TS with Aggression OCS (n = 11) were compared to TS without Aggression OCS (n = 22) and controls by using MANCOVA controlling for age. In the same way as Aggression, we compared the performance of three groups by Symmetry: TS with Symmetry OCS (n = 14), TS without Symmetry OCS (n = 19) and controls.Results: TS participants with Aggression OCS tended to make more perseverative errors than those without. Global OCS severity and tic severity did not correlate with any neuropsychological performances. No significant differences were detected between TS participants with and without Symmetry OCS. Conclusion:Neuropsychological deficits in TS might be affected not by global OCS severity but by specific TS-related OCS.

Repetitive behaviors in Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“…TS and OCD-related RB, tics and compulsions, have been associated with a dysfunction of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits, consistent with the hypothesis that obsessive-compulsive symptoms and tics might be part of the same spectrum [12,20]. The corticostriatal circuits are multiple parallel, segregated feedback circuits with outputs from striatum targeting primary motor areas, and specific pre-motor and prefrontal cortical areas.…”

A Review of the Neuropsychological Dimensions of Tourette Syndrome

“…In adults with TS, few studies assessed sustained attention. Normal CPT performance was found [ 79 ] and, as reported before, studies using a D2 cancellation task did not find an increased omission rate [ 56 ]. However, impairments were found in a highly demanding letter cancellation task [ 57 ].…”

“…The picture is less clear regarding other inhibition tasks, such as the Stroop task. On the one hand, several studies reported intact Stroop performance in children [ 69 , 86 , 91 , 144 , 148 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 ] and adults [ 57 , 79 , 91 , 107 , 123 , 145 , 167 ] with TS. On the other hand, impaired Stroop performance has also been found in TS children [ 61 , 168 ] and adults [ 34 , 56 , 93 , 97 , 99 ].…”

Neuropsychological investigations in obsessive–compulsive disorder: A systematic review of methodological challenges

“…Some comorbidities -such as chronic tics or Tourette's syndrome -that are prevalent among OCD patients may be associated with distinct neuropsychological deficits (Eddy et al, 2009). In fact, it has been indicated that cases of comorbid OCD and Tourette's present with more substantial cognitive deficits, over and above the ones that are thought to characterize each disorder separately (Matsuda et al, 2012). In addition, only a minority of studies assessed and reported the presence of personality disorders, some of which may be associated with a distinct profile of neuropsychological deficits.…”