Tourette Syndrome Global Scale Research Articles

Cognitive disturbances in children with chronic tics and their treatment

To clarify the severity of cognitive disturbances in children with chronic tics and to evaluate the efficacy of cortexin as part of complex therapy in the treatment of this pathology. The main study group included 50 children, aged 6-8 years, with chronic motor tics. Twenty patients of these group received phenibut and 30 patients received cortexin in addition to phenibut. The comparison group consisted of 30 children with transient tics, aged 6-8 years, the control group consisted of 40 children of the same age without tics and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Clinical assessment of tick manifestations and their frequency was performed using the Tourette Syndrome Global Scale (TSGS), neurological examination, electroencephalography. Severity of asthenic and cognitive disorders was evaluated using the Subjective Asthenia Scale (MFI-20), the memorization technique by A.R. Luria and the TOVA test. Children with chronic tics show signs of asthenia, they are characterized by a higher level of inattention and significantly lower levels of long-term memory compared to children from the comparison group and the control group. The level of impulsivity in children with chronic tics is significantly higher than in the control group but significantly lower than in children in the comparison group. A comparative analysis of EEG data in children with chronic tics reveals the following significant differences from the control and comparison groups: a higher amplitude and higher values of the peak frequency of the alpha-rhythm in the posterior regions of both hemispheres, a significant increase in the alpha-range of the frontal temporal leads of both hemispheres. Complex therapy with the addition of cortexin significantly improves treatment efficacy: improvement is noted in 60,0% of patients in monotherapy and in 83.3% of patients in complex therapy.

Systematic review of severity scales and screening instruments for tics: Critique and recommendations.

Several clinician, informant, and self-report instruments for tics and associated phenomena have been developed that differ in construct, comprehensiveness, and ease of administration. A Movement Disorders Society subcommittee aimed to rate psychometric quality of severity and screening instruments for tics and related sensory phenomena. Following the methodology adopted by previous Movement Disorders Society subcommittee papers, a review of severity and screening instruments for tics was completed, applying a classification as "recommended," "suggested," or "listed" to each instrument. A total of 5 severity scales (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Tourette Syndrome Clinical Global Impression, Tourette's Disorder Scale, Shapiro Tourette syndrome Severity Scale, Premonitory Urges for Tics Scale) were "recommended," and 6 (Rush Video-Based Tic Rating Scale, Motor tic, Obsessions and compulsions, Vocal tic Evaluation Survey, Tourette Syndrome Global Scale, Global Tic Rating Scale, Parent Tic Questionnaire, Tourette Syndrome Symptom List) were "suggested." A total of 2 screening instruments (Motor tic, Obsession and compulsions, Vocal tic Evaluation Survey and Autism-Tics, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Other Comorbidities Inventory) were "recommended," whereas 2 others (Apter 4-questions screening and Proxy Report Questionnaire for Parents and Teachers) were "suggested." Our review does not support the need for developing new tic severity or screening instruments. Potential objectives of future research include developing a rating instrument targeting the full spectrum of tic-related abnormal behaviors, assessing/screening malignant forms of tic disorders, and developing patient-reported outcome measures. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Cognitive behavioral management of Tourette's syndrome and chronic tic disorder in medicated and unmedicated samples

Objective Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and medication can be administered in combination in treating tic disorders but there are no studies evaluating the effectiveness of CBT with and without medication. The current study compares the efficacy of CBT in combination with medication and without medication. Method CBT was administered in a consecutively referred sample of 76 people diagnosed either with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome or chronic tic disorder. The sample was divided into a medicated and a non-medicated group. Twenty three were stabilized on medication and 53 were not receiving medication. Measures administered pre- and post-CBT in both groups included: main outcome measure of Tourette Syndrome Global Scale and measures of mood. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance on the initial sample revealed no difference between medicated and non-medicated groups in outcome. A further analysis comparing the 23 receiving medication with 23 not receiving medication matched on baseline clinical variables also yielded no significant group differences, either in treatment outcome on main tic outcome measures or on other clinically relevant questionnaires. Discussion CBT for tic disorders is an effective treatment administered either in combination with medication or alone.

Ondansetron Treatment in Tourette's Disorder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron, a selective 5-HT(3) antagonist, in the treatment of Tourette's disorder. Participants (N = 30) aged 12 to 46 years, diagnosed with DSM-IV Tourette's disorder and resistant to previous haloperidol treatment, were enrolled in a 3-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled outpatient study. Assessments were conducted at baseline and once a week during the study period. Scales used included the Tourette's Syndrome Global Scale (TSGS), the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Ondansetron dose was 8, 16, and 24 mg/day in the first, second, and third weeks, respectively. A significant positive effect of ondansetron on tic severity, as assessed by the TSGS, was noted (baseline vs. endpoint: mean +/-SD = 29.62 +/-20.33 vs. 20.58 +/-12.82, p = .002 vs. placebo). However, no significant effect was detected upon assessing ondansetron/ placebo effect on tic severity with the YGTSS (baseline vs. endpoint: mean +/-SD = 24.04 +/-9.44 vs. 17.50 +/-9.48, p = .15 vs. placebo). No change in obsessive-compulsive symptoms was noted in either group. Adverse effects included mild and transient abdominal pain. Ondansetron may have antitic effects in patients with Tourette's disorder. Large-scale, double-blind studies should further assess the antitic efficacy of ondansetron.

Pimozide was superior to haloperidol for children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder and caused fewer side effects

Sallee FR, Nesbitt L, Jackson C , et al. Relative efficacy of haloperidol and pimozide in children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder. Am J Psychiatry 1997 Aug; 154 : 1057...

A controlled study of sensory tics in Gilles de 1a Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder using a structured interview.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of sensory tics in the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), and a matched population of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using a...

Trace amines and Tourette's syndrome.

There has been considerable interest in recent years in possible neurochemical abnormalities in Tourette's Syndrome (TS). In studies combining neuropsychological and neurochemical measurements, we have investigated the possible roles of trace amines in this disorder. Urinary levels of free beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) and plasma levels of its precursor amino acid phenylalanine were decreased in TS patients when compared to values in normal children. These urinary PEA levels in TS patients were inversely related to several scores from the Tourette's Syndrome Global Scale (TSGS). Further investigation of the group of subjects with low urinary PEA indicated that they also had low levels of MHPG, normetanephrine, 5-HT and m- and p-tyramine. Patients with low PEA were also compared on an extensive battery of neuropsychological measures and observed to perform significantly worse than TS patients with normal urinary PEA levels. Biochemical measurements also suggest a possible abnormality in tryptamine turnover in TS since urinary levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; the acid metabolite of tryptamine) are significantly lower in TS patients than in normal controls.

Tourette syndrome and neuropsychological performance

This study examined performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests in a sample of 28 patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS). Test scores were converted to age-corrected T-scores to control for the effect of age on test performance. The frequency of abnormal test performances was variable, but more frequent on motor and sensory tasks. Symptom severity as measured by the Tourette Syndrome Global Scale was inversely related to neuropsychological performance. In general, neuropsychological performance was mildly below average. The pattern of performance was similar to previous studies of TS patients.

Phenylethylamine metabolism in Tourette's syndrome

Beta-phenylethylamine, phenylalanine, and phenylacetic acid were examined in 24-hour urine samples and/or plasma samples obtained from 28 medication-free patients with Tourette's syndrome and 20 control subjects matched for age and education. Statistical analyses revealed that Tourette patients had lower plasma phenylalanine and urinary free beta-phenylethylamine compared with the controls, but did not differ on urinary total levels of phenylacetic acid. Fifty percent of the Tourette patients had a urinary beta-phenylethylamine level that was lower than the lowest control subject. In addition, urinary beta-phenylethylamine levels were inversely related to several scores from the Tourette Syndrome Global Scale. These data suggest that abnormalities in synthesis or metabolism of beta-phenylethylamine may be involved in the etiology of some patients with Tourette's syndrome.