OBJECTIVE: To define the long-term outcome in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) using objective rating measures. BACKGROUND: Previous historical studies suggest spontaneous improvement of tic symptoms after adolescence, but objective longitudinal data are limited. METHODS: The authors reviewed all videotapes in their database (1978 through 1991) of children with GTS (ages 8 to 14) who were seen in their tertiary care movement disorder center and underwent a standardized 5-minute filming protocol (n = 56). Through multiple contact methods, they successfully located 36 of these patients, who are now adults (age >20 years), and recruited 31 (28 men and 3 women) to volunteer for a second videotape and in-person assessment. A blinded rater evaluated the 62 tapes and rated five tic domains: body areas involved, motor and phonic tic frequency, and motor and phonic tic severity. Using standardized GTS videotape rating scale and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, the authors compared the two videotapes for each tic domain as well as the composite tic disability score. RESULTS: Ninety percent of adult patients still had tics. Adult patients who considered themselves tic-free were often inaccurate in their self-assessment: 50% had objective evidence of tics. Mean objective tic disability diminished in comparison to childhood (mean composite tic disability score childhood 9.58 vs adulthood 7.52, p = 0.014). All domains improved by adulthood, and significant improvements occurred in motor tic severity (p = 0.008). The improvements in tic disability did not relate to medication use, as only 13% of adults received medications for tics, compared with 81% of children. CONCLUSIONS: In GTS syndrome, tics objectively improve over time but most adults have persistent tics.
OBJECTIVE: To define the long-term outcome in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) using objective rating measures. BACKGROUND: Previous historical studies suggest spontaneous improvement of tic symptoms after adolescence, but objective longitudinal data are limited. METHODS: The authors reviewed all videotapes in their database (1978 through 1991) of children with GTS (ages 8 to 14) who were seen in their tertiary care movement disorder center and underwent a standardized 5-minute filming protocol (n = 56). Through multiple contact methods, they successfully located 36 of these patients, who are now adults (age >20 years), and recruited 31 (28 men and 3 women) to volunteer for a second videotape and in-person assessment. A blinded rater evaluated the 62 tapes and rated five tic domains: body areas involved, motor and phonic tic frequency, and motor and phonic tic severity. Using standardized GTS videotape rating scale and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, the authors compared the two videotapes for each tic domain as well as the composite tic disability score. RESULTS: Ninety percent of adult patients still had tics. Adult patients who considered themselves tic-free were often inaccurate in their self-assessment: 50% had objective evidence of tics. Mean objective tic disability diminished in comparison to childhood (mean composite tic disability score childhood 9.58 vs adulthood 7.52, p = 0.014). All domains improved by adulthood, and significant improvements occurred in motor tic severity (p = 0.008). The improvements in tic disability did not relate to medication use, as only 13% of adults received medications for tics, compared with 81% of children. CONCLUSIONS: In GTS syndrome, tics objectively improve over time but most adults have persistent tics.
Authors: Daniel A Gorman; Nancy Thompson; Kerstin J Plessen; Mary M Robertson; James F Leckman; Bradley S Peterson Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Ashley N Nielsen; Caterina Gratton; Jessica A Church; Nico U F Dosenbach; Kevin J Black; Steven E Petersen; Bradley L Schlaggar; Deanna J Greene Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2019-07-02 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: P J Hoekstra; A J Lundervold; S A Lie; C Gillberg; Kerstin J Plessen Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2012-10-13 Impact factor: 4.785