Psychopathology and movement disorders: a new perspective on the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Attention is drawn to associations between movement disorders and psychopathology. The historical background of this is briefly reviewed, and then some recent research findings with regards to the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome are presented. In particular, associations between aggressive and obsessive compulsive disorder and Gilles de la Tourette movements are reported. Further there are associations between a family history of tics and obsessive compulsive disorder in the subsequent generation. It is concluded that the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome should not be viewed as a tic disorder, but a far more complex condition in which the tics form but one aspect.