Centromedian-Parafascicular Complex Deep Brain Stimulation for Tourette Syndrome: A Retrospective Study.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamic centromedian/parafascicular (CM-Pf) complex has been reported as a promising treatment for patients with severe, treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome (TS). In this study, safety and clinical outcomes of bilateral thalamic CM-Pf DBS were reviewed in a series of 12 consecutive patients with medically refractory TS, 11 of whom met the criteria of postsurgical follow-up at our institution for at least 2 months. Five patients were followed for a year or longer. Consistent with many patients with TS, all patients had psychiatric comorbidities. Tic severity and frequency were measured by using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) over time (average, 26 months) in 10 subjects. One patient was tested at 2-week follow-up only and thus was excluded from group YGTSS analysis. Final YGTSS scores differed significantly from the preoperative baseline score. The average (n=10) improvement relative to baseline in the total score was 54% (95% CI, 37-70); average improvement relative to baseline in the YGTSS Motor tic, Phonic tic, and Impairment subtests was 46% (95% CI, 34-64), 52% (95% CI, 34-72), and 59% (95% CI, 39-78), respectively. There were no intraoperative complications. After surgery, 1 subject underwent wound revision because of a scalp erosion and wound infection; the implanted DBS system was successfully salvaged with surgical revision and combined antibiotic therapy. Stimulation-induced adverse effects did not prevent the use of the DBS system, although 1 subject is undergoing a trial period with the stimulator off. This surgical series adds to the literature on CM-Pf DBS and supports its use as an effective and safe therapeutic option for severe refractory TS.

[Psychogenic tics: clinical characteristics and prevalence]. / Tiki psychogenne: charakterystyka kliniczna i czestosc wystepowania.

AIM: Clinical characteristics and the prevalence of psychogenic tics (PT) METHODS: 268 consecutively examined patients aged 4 to 54 years (221 men, 47 females; 134 children, 134 adults) with tic phenotype: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS, n = 255), chronic motor tics (n = 6), chronic vocal tics (n= 1), transient tics (n = 1), tics unclassified (n = 2), PT (n= 5) were analyzed. The diagnosis of tic disorders was made on the DSM-IV-TR criteria and mental disorders by psychiatrists. RESULTS: PT were found in 5 patients (1.9%), aged 17 to 51 years, four men and one woman. The phenotype included vocalizations and complex movements. In none of the patients simple motor facial tics, inability to tic suppress, unchanging clinical pattern, peak severity from the beginning of the disease, lack of concern about the disease were present. The absence of premonitory urges, regression in unexpected positions, and the presence of atypical for GTS mental disorders were found in two persons. PT occurred in three persons in whom organic tics were present in childhood. Pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy were unsuccessful. In two persons spontaneous resolution occurred, in two patients the tics persist, in one person the course of PT is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: PT are rare and may occur in patients with organic tics. The most typical features of PT are: early onset in adulthood, lack of simple motor tics, inability to tic suppress. The diagnosis is established if a few atypical symptoms for organic tics occur.

Tourette's disorder and other tic disorders in DSM-5: a comment.

Classification of tic disorders will be revised in the forthcoming edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5). We do not support the suggestion to move tic disorders to "Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders", if the section "Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence" is not retained. Other than that, most proposed changes of the criteria for tic disorders contain a number of welcome improvements, e.g., the more unified definition of tics including the removal of the term "stereotyped" and the better capture of the temporal pattern of tics (e.g., removal of the maximum 3 months criterion for a tic-free period in chronic tic disorders). But, unfortunately there are some inconsistencies in detail, e.g., the unification of diagnostic criteria for tic disorders had not been consistently pursued in transient tic disorder. In sum, the proposed DSM-5 criteria could be seen as an important step forward particularly in clinical routine. However, continued research is needed to justify the existing and proposed classification of tic disorders as well as to better clarify what other changes should be made in the DSM-5 and beyond.

[Diagnosis and treatment of tics]. / Abwarten und beraten oder medikamentös behandeln. Was tun gegen Tics?

Tics are repetitive and sudden purposeless movements. Phenomenologically tics are differentiated as simple or complex, motor or vocal. Transient forms, which last less than 1 year, occur frequently in child hood. For Tourette syndrome, multiple simple and complex motor and vocal tics are present for more than one year. Frequently, additional symptoms of an obsessive-compulsive disorder or an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are present. There is no therapy for the cause of tics. For minor symptoms or if a transient tic disorder is suspected, the use of medications should be avoided. Instead the patient and if necessary, the parents should be informed in detail and given advice. Particularly for children, it is important to exclude antiepileptic drugs as the cause of tics. For chronic tics and for pronounced symptoms, drug therapy with neuroleptic drugs or clonidine is a possibility. However, the efficacy of these substances is limited.

[Tics in children and adolescents: a retrospective analysis of 78 cases]. / Tics en niños y adolescentes: análisis retrospectivo de 78 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Tics are the most frequent abnormal movement in children. A familial history of tics and a personal and familial history of neurobehavioral disturbances are common in children with this abnormality. Tics may seriously compromise daily activities in affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of tics in children and adolescents followed-up in the Neuropediatric Unit of the Hospital Geral de Santo António. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with tics based on information collected from medical records. The diagnostic criteria of the DSM IV-TR 2000 of the American Psychiatric Association were used. RESULTS: The medical records of 78 children were analyzed, 84.6 % of whom were boys. More than one third of the patients were aged 4 to 8 years old. In 5.1 % of the patients tics developed before the age of 2 years. A familial history of tics, depression and obsessive disorder traits was found in approximately 30 % of patients. The most frequent comorbidity was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (67.9 %). The occurrence of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus infection (PANDAS) was suggested in five patients. In all patients, motor tics occurred before vocal tics. In more than two thirds of the patients, tics were simple. In 59.0 % of the patients, tics were chronic, and in 45.7 % of these met the criteria for Tourette's syndrome. A total of 43.1 % of the patients with chronic tics received pharmacotherapy, risperidone being the most frequently used drug. CONCLUSIONS: In general the results of the present study are in agreement with those of previous studies, underlining the need to consider a diagnosis of tics in young children and highlighting the importance of identification and appropriate treatment of comorbidities.

Tics y síndrome de Tourette: ¿son psicogénicos los tics? ¿Cuál es su fisiopatología y qué opciones terapéuticas existen? / Tics and Tourette syndrome: are tics of psychogenic origin? what is its pathophysiology and what are the therapeutic options

El Síndrome de Tourette es un trastorno frecuente en niños y adolescentes, y cada vez más reconocido en nuestro medio. Tiene una asociación establecida con otras comorbilidades como el síndrome de déficit atencional y el trastorno obsesivo compulsivo. En esta revisión se analizan nuevos avances en la comprensión de su fisiopatología y las nuevas alternativas terapéuticas disponibles.

Treatment of phonic tics in patients with Tourette's syndrome using botulinum toxin type A.

We assessed the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on phonic tics in patients with Tourette's syndrome. A total of 30 patients received 2.5 IU BTX-A (BOTOX; Allergan) in both vocal cords. All patients were assessed after 15 days and then 4 times over a 12-month period. At each visit the following data were collected: phenomenology of tics, global impression of changes by physician and patient, number of BTX-A injections given, interval between injections, time to response, duration of response, presence of post-injection hypophonia and side effects, presence of premonitory sensory tic component, and interference with social life and work or school activities. Vocal tics improved after treatment in 93% patients, with 50% being tic-free. Mean response time was 5.8 days, and mean duration of response was 102 days. Quality of life improved, and premonitory experiences dropped from 53% to 20%. Hypophonia was the only side effect of note (80% of patients). BTX-A is an effective and safe treatment for phonic tics associated with Tourette's syndrome.

Is juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder a developmental subtype of the disorder?--Findings from an Indian study.

Juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been hypothesized to be different from adult-onset OCD suggesting that juvenile OCD may be a developmental subtype of the disorder. There is some evidence that juvenile OCD may be phenotypically different from juvenile-onset adult OCD. This study examines the phenotypic characteristics of juvenile OCD (current age < or = 18 years, n = 39), juvenile-onset adult OCD (onset < or = 18 years, current age >18 years, n = 87) and adult-onset OCD (onset > 18 years, n = 105). Qualified psychiatrists expert in evaluating OCD subjects conducted clinical and structured interviews. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, controlling for chronological age and gender, the juvenile OCD was associated with male preponderance, elevated rates of certain obsessive-compulsive symptoms, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic tics, body dysmorphic disorder and major depression. In addition, juvenile-onset adult OCD differed from juvenile OCD by having later age-at-onset and low rate of ADHD. The juvenile-onset adult OCD was positively associated with social phobia and chronic tics compared to adult-onset OCD. The juvenile OCD appears to be different from both juvenile-onset adult OCD and adult-onset OCD supporting previous observations that juvenile OCD could be a developmental subtype of the disorder.

Is it a tic or Tourette's? Clues for differentiating simple from more complex tic disorders.

Tics are characterized by sterotyped, purposeless, and irregularly repetitive movements and usually can be classified as chronic motor or vocal tic disorders, transient tic disorders, or Tourette's syndrome. The latter is a complex disorder associated with multiple tics and often accompanied by other conditions, such as ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Treatment can be difficult, and drug therapy should begin with agents least likely to cause problems for the patient. Education of the patient and family and support from the physician and other care providers are essential elements of effective management.

Tiques e síndrome de Tourette: definiçöes básicas, classificaçöes e critérios diagnósticos atuais / Tics and Tourette's sindrome: an update

O autor apresenta uma revisäo atual sobre os tiques e a síndrome de Tourette, enfatizando as definiçöes básicas, as classificaçöes e os critérios diagnósticos atuais

Tics, obsesiones y síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette: actualización clínica / Tics, obsessions and Tourette's syndrome: a clinical update

El síndrome de La Tourette es un transtorno caracterizado por la presencia de movimiento involuntarios (tics motores) y vocalizaciones (tics vocales). Frecuentemente asociado a transtorno obsesivo compulsivo y déficit atencional. Presenta una distribución mundial pero en nuestro medio existen escasas comunicaciones. Se comunican los avances en la fisiopatología y tratamiento de este transtorno y se discute la evidencia actual que plantea la presencia de desinhibición de los circuitos neuronales córticos-subcorticales en la fisiopatología de este cuadro. El Síndrome de la Tourette constituye un verdadero paradigma para un mejor entendimiento de la estrecha relación existente entre la actividad cognitivo-emocional y la función motora. Este cuadro es bastante común y no frecuente reconocido como tal en nuestro medio