title: Irritability symptoms in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
abstract: Behavioral symptoms are known to be a prominent feature of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), although little is known about irritability in this patient population. This study investigated the clinical correlates of irritability symptoms in 101 adult patients with GTS. We found that patients with more severe tics (especially vocal tics) report higher levels of irritability (r=0.37, p <0.001) Furthermore, irritability levels appear to be higher in those patients with comorbid attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, in whom poor impulse control is common. These findings prompt further research focusing on the possible link between irritability and impulse dyscontrol in GTS.
authors.affiliation: From the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry, University of Birmingham and BSMHFT, Birmingham, UK (JHC, AEC); Sobell Dept. of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology and UCL, London, UK (AEC); and School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK (AEC).
authors.forename: Joanna H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Andrea E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cavanna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult