title: Disease-specific quality of life in young patients with tourette syndrome.
abstract: Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and is often associated with comorbid behavioral problems. Research with generic instruments in child populations showed that comorbid disorders can have a greater impact on health-related quality of life than tic severity. This study investigated the usefulness of a newly developed disease-specific instrument, the Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome-Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents (GTS-QOL-C&A), in assessing health-related quality of life in young patients with Tourette syndrome with and without behavioral comorbidity. We recruited 75 patients with Tourette syndrome (60 males; age 12.4 ± 3.2 years). All participants were evaluated by a neuropsychiatrist and completed a standardized psychometric battery, including the GTS-QOL-C&A, Child Depression Inventory, and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. Forty-two patients (56%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for at least one comorbidity: obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 25 patients [33.3%]); attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 6 patients [8%]); both (n = 11 patients [14.7%]). The GTS-QOL-C&A demonstrated usefulness in differentiating "pure" Tourette syndrome from Tourette syndrome "plus" behavioral problems with regard to health-related quality of life scores for the obsessive-compulsive subscale. In addition to focusing on core tic symptoms, the GTS-QOL-C&A showed sensitivity to the impact of behavioral comorbidities on health-related quality of life and can usefully complement existing nonspecific instruments.
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, BSMHFT, and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. A.Cavanna@ion.ucl.ac.uk
authors: Andrea E
authors: AE
authors: Cavanna
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Luoni
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Selvini
authors: Rosanna
authors: R
authors: Blangiardo
authors: Clare M
authors: CM
authors: Eddy
authors: Paola R
authors: PR
authors: Silvestri
authors: Paola V
authors: PV
authors: Calì
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Gagliardi
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Balottin
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Cardona
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Rizzo
authors: Cristiano
authors: C
authors: Termine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*