Heterogeneous Psychopathology of Tourette Syndrome

Abstract

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex inherited childhood-onset movement disorder. TS is, however, also a heterogeneous disorder. Several types of psychopathology are associated with TS. The psychopathologies are too, for the most part, heterogeneous. Controversy has always reigned as far as the links between the various psychopathologies associated with TS. Suggestions as to the etiologies of the various associated psychopathologies are given. Thereafter, a brief overview of the psychopathologies is given. Finally, the rationale is given for the decision, and three psychopathologies are described in detail, namely obsessive—compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It is suggested that the psychopathology of TS may well be described and divided as follows: (i) obsessive—compulsive behaviors (OCB) (integral and genetically related); (ii) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (common, and genetically related in some cases only); (iii) depression (common and multifactorial in etiology); (iv) anxiety (secondary to having TS); (v) other psychopathologies that may be related to co-morbidity rather than to TS per se (e.g., personality disorder); (vi) psychopathology as a result of referral bias; (vii) psychopathology secondary to medication; and (viii) other disorders, which require further investigation (e.g., ASDs, rage, and bipolar affective disorder [BAD]). These disorders and their relationships to TS are highlighted, as are suggestions for future research.