Tics and Tourette syndrome: clinical evaluation of 44 cases

Abstract

We evaluated 44 patients with tics and Tourettes syndrome (TS) emphasising the age of onset of symptoms, sex, classification and localization of tics, associated symptoms and signs and comorbidities. Thirtythree patients (75.2%) had TS defined criteria whereas 10 (22.7%) had chronic motor and/or vocal tics. Simple motor tics were found in 43 cases (97.7%), mainly affecting the eyes (43.2%), mouth (43.2%), face (34.1%). Simple vocal tics occurred in 33 (75%). Coprolalia was found in just 6 cases (13.6%) and copropraxia in just 2 (4.5%). Obsessive compulsive disorder and/or symptoms were found in 26 cases (59.1%) and attention deficit in 17 (38.6%). Eighteen patients (40.9%) had other disorders, such as alcoholism, tabagism, drug abuse, affective disorders, anxiety, sleep and learning disorders. The data obtained are similar to those found by other authors. We highlight the low frequency of coprolalia, as well as the associated neuropsychiatric disorders.KEY WORDS: Tourettes Syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder.Tiques e síndrome de Tourette: avaliação clínica de 44 casos RESUMO Avaliamos 44 pacientes com tiques e síndrome de Tourette (ST), enfatizando a idade de início dos sintomas, sexo, classificação e localização dos tiques, sinais e sintomas associados e presença de comorbidades. Trinta e três pacientes (75,2%) tinham TS definida, ao passo que 10 (22,7%) tinham tiques motores e/ou vocais crônicos. Tiques motores simples foram encontrados em 43 casos (97,7%), principalmente envolvendo os olhos (43,2%), boca (43,2%), face (34,1%). Tiques vocais simples ocorreram em 33 (75%). Coprolalia estava presente em apenas 6 casos (13,6%) e copropraxia em apenas 2 (4,5%). Sintomas e/ou transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo foi encontrado em 26 casos (59,1%) e déficit de atenção em 17 (38,6%). Dezoito pacientes (40,9%) tinham outras desordens, tais como alcoolismo, tabagismo, abuso de drogas. Os dados encontrados são semelhantes àqueles encontrados por outros autores. Nós enfatizamos a baixa incidência de coprolalia, assim como a presença de transtornos neuropsiquiátricos associados.

Mood disorders and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome: an update on prevalence, etiology, comorbidity, clinical associations, and implications

“…In 16 uncontrolled studies in specialist centers examining mood changes among 5409 GTS patients, depressive symptomatology, dysthymia, mood swings and/ or MDD, or depressive illness was found in 13-76%. The main diagnosis was MDD [23,27,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

Aripiprazole: A treatment for severe coprolalia in “refractory” Gilles de la Tourette syndrome

“…In a recent study, coprolalia was suggested to be a potential risk factor for malignant evolution of GTS1 and, evidently, has an important social and professional impact. The frequency of this symptom is estimated to range from 8% to 26% depending on the study population 2, 3. The pathophysiology of coprolalia is poorly understood.…”

A contribuição de Charcot para o estudo da síndrome de Tourette

“…The estimated prevalence of the disease ranges from 1 to 10 per 1000 children and adolescents, being associated with various comorbidities such as attention deficit and obsessive-compulsive disorders 1,2 . These comorbidities have been reported in various series of Brazilian patients in the literature [3][4][5] . It is believed nowadays that Ts has significant genetic determinant, and several candidate genes have been described.…”