Adults with Tourette's syndrome with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Comorbidity between Tourette's syndrome (TS) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is high. In children, those with both TS+ADHD fare less well than those with TS-only on measures of both psychopathology and behaviour. The objective of this study was to document such measures in adult patients.


METHODS
Eighty adults with TS-only were compared to 64 with TS+ADHD using a clinical interview and standardised measures of depression, anxiety and obsessionality.


RESULTS
The two groups were no different on measures of TS severity. TS+ADHD patients had significantly more depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviour and maladaptive behaviours than patients with TS-only. There were also significant differences in the incidence of copro- and echo-phenomena and family history of ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of increased overall behavioural difficulties and psychopathology in adult patients with TS+ADHD when compared with TS-only is in agreement with previous findings in children with TS. Appropriate treatment of ADHD in TS patients during childhood may prevent many behavioural problems in adulthood.
Haddad
A D M
AD
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Umoh
G
G
Bhatia
V
V
Robertson
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult