[Treatment of Tourette syndrome and its comorbidity: experience with 17 cases].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Clinical characteristics and comorbid disorders of Tourette syndrome (TS) are reviewed along with a presentation of our experience with 17 cases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

We carried out a retrospective study of pediatric patients with TS admitted from 1998 to 2004 in Fundación Hospital Alcorcón.

RESULTS:

Seventeen patients were obtained, 16 of whom were men and there was only 1 woman. Present age ranged from 7 to 17 years old. Most frequent comorbid disorders were attention deficit disorder (ADD) in 9 patients, (53%), obsessive-compulsive disorder in 8 (48%) and anxiety in 7 (41%). Learning disorders were found in 7 patients (41%), 5 of whom have concurrent ADD and 1 severe obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychopharmacological treatment was withdrew in the 2 cases treated with halloperidol due to the presence of severe extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and in 3 of the 7 cases treated with pimozide (one of them was withdrawn due to EPS). No EPS was found with atypical neuroleptics, but sedation and weight gain was common. Methylphenidate was administered to 7 patients without an increase in tics.

CONCLUSIONS:

In our sample the most common comorbid disorders were ADD, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety and learning disorders. Atypical neuroleptics were better tolerated than classic ones, although the incidence of side effects is elevated. Methylphenidate was not associated with tic worsening.

• Authors: M A Martínez-Granero, F Montañés Rada, A García Pérez, M T de Lucas Taracena, S Sánchez Romero, S Rafia, A Granados, E Parra Cuadrado
• Journal: Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain) (Neurologia) Vol. 20 Issue 10 Pg. 678-85 (Dec 2005) ISSN: 0213-4853 [Print] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Tratamiento del síndrome de Tourette y su comorbilidad: presentación de 17 casos.
• PMID: 16317589 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Central Nervous System Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child Behavior Disorders (physiopathology)
• Comorbidity
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Retrospective Studies
• Tourette Syndrome (drug therapy, epidemiology, physiopathology)