Social Deficits and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Tourette’s Syndrome

Abstract

Chronic tic disorders, including Tourette's syndrome (TS), are neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by the childhood onset of motor and/or vocal tics. Youth with TS often experience disturbances in social functioning, which can negatively impact functioning and overall quality of life. We summarize the existing knowledge about social deficits in youth with TS, while highlighting the various ways that these deficits present in comorbid developmental disorders (i.e., autism spectrum disorders) as well as in other TS-related phenomenology impacting social functioning (i.e., comorbid psychiatric conditions, tic severity, and peer victimization). Further, we discuss how interventions for TS should aim to address not only tic severity, but also the multifaceted reasons for social deficits within this population. We conclude with a discussion of clinical implications and future directions for clinical intervention and research.

Tourette syndrome research highlights 2015

“…In December, 2015, a special issue on Tourette Syndrome appeared in the new journal Current Developmental Disorders Reports . Four of the 5 articles are clinically focused 13 , 93 – 95 . The other article summarizes some of the recent advances in TS neuroimaging 96 .…”

<p>Social communication deficits and restricted repetitive behavior symptoms in Tourette syndrome</p>

“…However, this surface level similarity glosses over the very different mechanisms that might be at work to create these outcomes. With respect to ASD, challenges in building or maintaining social connections and friendships are linked to a cluster of symptoms involving deficits in nonverbal communication, both expressive and receptive, and an abnormal approach to interaction and social reciprocity,6 whilst in TS a reduction in satisfying relationships and increasing loneliness has been posited to be linked to high rates of peer victimization or bullying 36. In other words, the ASD group might find it difficult to make friends because of their own deficits in being able to interact positively, whilst people with TS might find the same outcome because of the reticence of others to engage positively with them.…”

Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank: A Review of Emerging Issues and Technologies

“…Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with multiple motor and vocal tics that can incur difficulty with social engagement and communications that can often be debilitating (Cheung et al, 2007; Kenney et al, 2008; Hanks et al, 2015). DBS has been explored in a subset of TS subjects with severely disabling symptoms.…”