title: Clinical Correlates and Predictors of Caregiver Strain in Children with Chronic Tic Disorders.
abstract: Although tics are the defining feature of chronic tic disorders (CTD), many children experience comorbid internalizing and externalizing problems that contribute to impairment across several domains, including family functioning. The current study examined clinical correlates and predictors of caregiver strain in parents of children with CTD. Participants were 123 children and adolescents diagnosed with a CTD who participated in a randomized-controlled trial of behavior therapy for reducing tics. Results showed that a combination of disruptive behavior, inattention/hyperactivity, and tic intensity best explained objective strain and a combination of inattention/hyperactivity and tic intensity were the best predictors of subjective caregiver strain. Implications of these findings for care providers are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors: Krishnapriya
authors: K
authors: Ramanujam
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Himle
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors: Loran P
authors: LP
authors: Hayes
authors: Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
authors: Douglas W
authors: DW
authors: Woods
authors: Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Yale Child Studies Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Scahill
authors: Yale Child Studies Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors: Denis G
authors: DG
authors: Sukhodolsky
authors: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Wilhelm
authors: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors: Thilo
authors: T
authors: Deckersbach
authors: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
authors: Alan L
authors: AL
authors: Peterson
authors: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Matt
authors: M
authors: Specht
authors: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD; Weill Cornell Medical School, Cornell University, New York, NY.
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Walkup
authors: Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Chang
authors: Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Piacentini
keywords: Tourette disorder; caregiver strain; chronic tic disorder; externalizing; family functioning; internalizing