A measure of functional impairment in youth with Tourette's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Tourette's Syndrome (TS) during childhood is linked to varied behavioral and psychological difficulties and functional impairment. The current study was undertaken to examine both tic-related impairment and impairment from other psychological problems in 59 youth (mean age 11.4 years, 69% male) with TS.


METHODS
Caretakers completed a checklist about the impact of tics and other psychological difficulties on family, school, and social functioning. In addition, a clinician administered a measure of tic severity to families.


RESULTS
Over half of the sample reported one significant problem area due to the presence of tics, with over a third reporting two or more problem areas. Problems were heterogeneous in nature, with no report of a particular problem area in more than 25% of the children. The rate of nontic-related impairment was very high, with 70% of parents reporting at least one problem area.


CONCLUSIONS
Treating both tic and nontic-related impairments concurrently may improve functioning more so than treating the symptoms separately.
Storch
Eric A
EA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Box 100234, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. estorch@psychiatry.ufl.edu
Lack
Caleb W
CW
Simons
Laura E
LE
Goodman
Wayne K
WK
Murphy
Tanya K
TK
Geffken
Gary R
GR
D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology