Prevalence of tics and Tourette syndrome in an inpatient adult psychiatry setting.
OBJECTIVE
Given the widely recognized genetic basis for Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) and the suggestion that the putative TS gene(s) may be expressed as or associated with a variety of psychiatric illnesses, this study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of tics and TS in a psychiatric inpatient population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
200 consecutive adult patients who were admitted to the psychiatric wards of University College London Teaching Hospitals.


METHODS
TS and related behaviours, as assessed by the comprehensive semi-structured National Hospital Interview Schedule.


RESULTS
None of the 200 patients had definite TS, but 2 were observed to have motor tics; 10 had a history of tics (present for less than a year), and 7 reported a family history of tics. Thus, 19 (9.5%) inpatients qualified for inclusion in a broadly defined TS diathesis. These rates are significantly lower than those reported in a similar community based epidemiological study of adolescents (p = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support the theory that TS and related behaviours are over-represented among adult inpatients with psychiatric illnesses.
Eapen
V
V
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. veapen@uaeu.ac.ae
Laker
M
M
Anfield
A
A
Dobbs
J
J
Robertson
M M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020323:Tics / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology