Disentangling the overlap between Tourette's disorder and ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To identify similarities and differences in neuropsychiatric correlates in children with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and those with ADHD.


METHODS
The sample consisted of children with Tourette's syndrome with ADHD (N = 79), children with Tourette's syndrome without ADHD (N = 18), children with ADHD (N = 563), psychiatrically referred children (N = 212), and healthy controls (N = 140).


RESULTS
Disorders specifically associated with Tourette's syndrome were obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and simple phobias. Rates of other disorders, including other disruptive behavioral, mood, and anxiety disorders, neuropsychologic correlates, and social and school functioning were indistinguishable in children with Tourette's and ADHD. However, children with Tourette's syndrome plus ADHD had more additional comorbid disorders overall and lower psychosocial function than children with ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm previously noted associations between Tourette's syndrome and OCD but suggest that disruptive behavioral, mood, and anxiety disorders as well as cognitive dysfunctions may be accounted for by comorbidity with ADHD. However, Tourette's syndrome plus ADHD appears to be a more severe condition than ADHD alone.
Spencer
T
T
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
Biederman
J
J
Harding
M
M
O'Donnell
D
D
Wilens
T
T
Faraone
S
S
Coffey
B
B
Geller
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*