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Indian J Psychol Med 2020 May-Jun;42(3):262-267. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Tic disorders (TDs) are common neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents. To date, there is very scant literature on TDs in children and adolescents in the Indian setting.

Aim: The objectives of this study were to characterize the clinical profile, including comorbidities and pattern of medication use in the treatment of TDs, in children and adolescents. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2020 Jul;49(1):E6

1Department of Neurologic Surgery.

The development of closed-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems represents a significant opportunity for innovation in the clinical application of neurostimulation therapies. Despite the highly dynamic nature of neurological diseases, open-loop DBS applications are incapable of modifying parameters in real time to react to fluctuations in disease states. Thus, current practice for the designation of stimulation parameters, such as duration, amplitude, and pulse frequency, is an algorithmic process. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 Jul 1;10(1):11092. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. Read More

Brain Dev 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, United States.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by tics, but most patients also experience bothersome sensory phenomena, in the form of premonitory urges and/or sensory hypersensitivity. Whereas premonitory urges are temporally paired with tics, sensory hypersensitivity is a constant, heightened awareness of external and/or internal stimuli. The intensity of sensory hypersensitivity does not strongly correlate with the severity of tics or premonitory urges, suggesting it is a dissociable clinical phenomenon. Read More

F1000Res 2020 3;9:505. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Radiology and Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA.

A boy with multiple phonic tics, one lifetime motor tic, and no impairment or marked distress does not meet criteria for any DSM-5 tic disorder diagnosis. The next version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual should adjust the criteria for Tourette's Disorder and/or for "other specified tic disorder" and "unspecified tic disorder." Read More

Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2019 Jul;30(3):109-115

Clinical Research Center, Mental Health Research Institute, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: This study investigates lay beliefs about the etiology and treatments of tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome, as well as identifying sociodemographic and personality variables affecting these beliefs among South Koreans.

Methods: In total, 673 participants (mean age 41.77±12. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 Jun 6;129:109119. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

The Department of Radiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: In this study, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the anatomical alterations of cerebral cortex in children with Tourette syndrome (TS) and explore whether such deficits were related with their clinical symptoms.

Methods: All subjects were scanned in a 3.0T MRI scanner with three-dimensional T1-weighted images (3DT1WI). Read More

J Psychiatr Brain Sci 2020 27;5. Epub 2020 May 27.

Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

We report on the ongoing project "The New Tics Study: A Novel Approach to Pathophysiology and Cause of Tic Disorders," describing the work completed to date, ongoing studies and long-term goals. The overall goals of this research are to study the pathophysiology of Provisional Tic Disorder, and to study tic remission (or improvement) in a prospective fashion. Preliminary data collection for the project began almost 10 years ago. Read More

Behav Ther 2020 Jul 27;51(4):659-669. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

The Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tic Disorders (CBIT) has demonstrated efficacy in large randomized controlled trials for children (≥9 yrs), adolescents and adults with Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorders. Given the early age of onset for tic disorders, a large portion of affected individuals with chronic tic disorders are less than 9 years of age and appropriate developmental adaptations of behavioral treatment have not yet been tested. The goal of this study was to adapt and evaluate the acceptability and utility of a family-based adaptation of CBIT for children under 9 years of age. Read More

Mol Cytogenet 2020 22;13:23. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterized by multiple chronic involuntary motor and vocal tics with onset during childhood or adolescence. Most TS patients present with additional comorbidities, typically attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Both TS and ID are genetically complex disorders that likely occur as a result of the effects of multiple genes interacting with other environmental factors. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2020 5;11:515. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.

Amino acid neurotransmitters have been shown to correlate with Tourette syndrome (TS) and its comorbidities. In this study, we investigated the effects of Jian-Pi-Zhi-Dong Decoction (JPZDD), a formula containing 10 different Chinese medical herbs, on amino acid neurotransmitters in rats. We established a rat model of Tourette syndrome and comorbid anxiety with an iminodipropionitrile injection plus uncertain empty water bottle stimulation for 3 weeks. Read More

Front Neurosci 2020 5;14:492. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Movement Disorders and Neurostimulation, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, DBS is indicated as the disease progresses and motor complications derived from pharmacological therapy arise. Here, we evaluate the potential of DBS prior to levodopa (L-Dopa) in improving quality of life (QoL), challenging the state of the art for DBS therapy. Read More

Nord J Psychiatry 2020 Jun 25:1-7. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by several motor and phonic tics. In this study, we aimed to compare activated regulatory T cell (Treg) values between patients with TS/chronic tic disorder (CTD) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Patients with TS/CTD and age- and sex-matched HCs were included in the study. Read More

Sleep Med Rev 2020 May 20;53:101335. Epub 2020 May 20.

University Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, UNEx, ARADyAL Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Cáceres, Spain.

Sleep disorders are very common in patients diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS). The present review focuses on sleep disorders and the results of polysomnographic studies performed in patients with TS. We made a search using the PubMed, Embase, MedLine, and Web of Science Databases, from 1966 until November 14, 2019, crossing the search term "Tourette syndrome" with "sleep", "sleep disorders", "sleep disturbances", and "polysomnography", and with each of the specific sleep disorders listed according to the International Classification of the Sleep Disorders-Third Edition. Read More

J Child Neurol 2020 Jun 17:883073820932068. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Penn State College of Medicine/Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.

PLoS One 2020 16;15(6):e0234724. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.

The major symptoms of Tourette syndrome are motor and vocal tics, but Tourette syndrome is occasionally associated with cognitive alterations as well. Although Tourette syndrome does not affect the majority of cognitive functions, some of them improve. There is scarce evidence on the impairment of learning functions in patients with Tourette syndrome. Read More

J Neuropsychol 2020 Jun 16:e12216. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Psychology, Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, University of Southampton, UK.

Background: Patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) or chronic tic disorders frequently experience premonitory urges prior to tics. The 'Premonitory Urges for Tic Disorders Scale' (PUTS) is commonly used in order to assess urge severity in patients with tics. Several studies suggest that the PUTS might measure more than one dimension of urges. Read More

J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2020 03;50(1):46-48

Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan 612896, Republic of Korea, Email:

Swearing is described in various neurological conditions such as Tourette syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and post stroke or encephalitis. However, swearing as an ictal manifestation or automatism has rarely been reported. We herein describe a case with swearing as a predominant manifestation in focal epilepsy. Read More

Child Adolesc Ment Health 2020 Feb 27. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is reported in all cultures, although is speculated to be rare among those of Sub-Saharan African descent. A lack of research exploring TS in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa has meant that it is not yet established whether this apparent rarity is due to a true low prevalence or if identification of the condition merely is unrecognized. The present study aimed to explore health professionals' knowledge and attitudes of the identification, diagnosis and management of TS in Uganda. Read More

J Child Neurol 2020 Jun 9:883073820924257. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

University of South Florida's Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.

Children with Tourette syndrome often have behavioral and social difficulties, which may be associated with co-occurring mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. This study investigated social competence, including behavioral problems and social skills, and social activities between children with and without Tourette syndrome using a nationally representative sample. In the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health, parents reported on health care provider diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, co-occurring mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders, and indicators of social competence. Read More

J Clin Med 2020 Jun 3;9(6). Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Previous studies have investigated differences in the volumes of subcortical structures (e.g., caudate nucleus, putamen, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus) between individuals with and without Tourette syndrome (TS), as well as the relationships between these volumes and tic symptom severity. Read More

Curr Biol 2020 Jun 4;30(12):2334-2342.e3. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

School of Psychology University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Triumph Road Nottingham, NG7 2TU, UK. Electronic address:

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by the occurrence of vocal and motor tics. Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations that occur in bouts, typically many times in a single day, and are often preceded by a strong urge-to-tic-referred to as a premonitory urge (PU). TS is associated with the following: dysfunction within cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical (CSTC) brain circuits implicated in the selection of movements, impaired operation of GABA signaling within the striatum, and hyper-excitability of cortical sensorimotor regions that might contribute to the occurrence of tics. Read More

Front Mol Neurosci 2020 15;13:76. Epub 2020 May 15.

CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.

The striatum, the main input structure of the basal ganglia, is critical for action selection and adaptive motor control. To understand the neuronal mechanisms underlying these functions, an analysis of microcircuits that compose the striatum is necessary. Among these, cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) provide intrinsic striatal innervation whose dysfunction is implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Tourette syndrome. Read More

Biol Psychiatry 2020 Jun;87(12):1019-1021

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. Electronic address:

Cortex 2020 Mar 29;129:188-198. Epub 2020 Mar 29.

School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK.

Previous observations of improvements in cognition in typically developing children following moderate to vigorous exercise (e.g., Budde, Voelcker-Rehage, Pietrabyk-Kendziorra, Ribeiro, & Tidow, 2008; Hillman et al. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(22):e20492

Department of Radiology.

To investigate the characteristics of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the central nervous system in children with Tourette syndrome (TS).Fifteen children with TS (TS group) and 15 normal children (control group) were studied, and all of them underwent DTI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) parameters were calculated using the DTIStudio software. Read More

Qual Health Res 2020 Jun 1:1049732320915444. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA.

The experiences of Tourette syndrome (TS) caregivers with supportive communication are examined in this qualitative investigation. TS is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder marked by a combination of involuntary verbal and motor tics lasting for more than 1 year. Although individuals are impacted the most by TS, the stress for caring for a child with TS takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregiver. Read More

Cortex 2020 May 4;129:175-187. Epub 2020 May 4.

Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterised by the occurrence of chronic motor and vocal tics, and is associated with alterations in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signalling within key brain networks; in particular the cortical-striatal-thalamic-cortical (CSTC) brain circuits that are implicated in movement selection and habit learning. Converging evidence indicates abnormal brain network function in TS may be largely due to the impaired operation of GABA signalling within the striatum and within cortical motor areas, leading to the occurrence of tics. TS has been linked to a heightened sensitivity to somatic stimulation and altered processing of somatosensory information, and there is evidence to indicate that alterations in GABAergic function is likely to contribute to altered somatomotor function. Read More

Brain 2020 Jun;143(6):1934-1945

Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics. Research in Tourette syndrome has traditionally focused on the motor system. However, there is increasing evidence that perceptual and cognitive processes play a crucial role as well. Read More

Psychiatr Pol 2020 Feb 29;54(1):69-82. Epub 2020 Feb 29.

Zakład Psychologii Klinicznej i Neuropsychologii Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to show relationship between severity of depressive symptoms and the severity of tics, declared feeling of stigmatization and feelings about the body.

Methods: The study included 13 people with Tourette syndrome and 13 people in a comparative group - matching method, taking into account compatibility of gender, age, number of years of education, and size of the place of residence. The study used: Polish adaptation of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Questionnaire for Measuring Depression (Kwestionariusz do Pomiaru Depresji -KPD), Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ), Questionnaire of feelings about the body. Read More

Brain Sci 2020 May 18;10(5). Epub 2020 May 18.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two neurodevelopmental disorders with male predominance, frequently comorbid, that share clinical and behavioral features. The incidence of ASD in patients affected by GTS was reported to be between 2.9% and 22. Read More

Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2020 May 22:9922820924692. Epub 2020 May 22.

Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, VT, USA.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with reduced school performance. To determine which ADHD symptoms and subtypes have the strongest association, we used type and frequency of symptoms on the 2014 National Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD and Tourette Syndrome (NS-DATA) to create symptom scores for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity and define subtypes (ADHD-Inattentive [ADHD-I], ADHD-Hyperactive-Impulsive, ADHD-Combined [ADHD-C]). Regression methods were used to examine associations between symptoms and subtype and a composite measure of school performance. Read More

Psychiatr Clin North Am 2020 Jun 8;43(2):249-262. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK; Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address:

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by the repeated inability to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or others. Although classification approaches to ICDs vary both diachronically and synchronically, this group of conditions encompasses a wide range of syndromes, including pathologic gambling, kleptomania, trichotillomania, excoriation (skin picking) disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, pyromania, oppositional defiant, conduct, and antisocial personality disorders. ICDs can play a significant role as comorbidities in both neurodevelopmental (eg, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome) and neurodegenerative (eg, Parkinson disease) disorders. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Tourette syndrome (TS) and other chronic tic disorders (CTD) are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, which can have a huge burden on families and society. Behavioral treatment is a first-line intervention for tic disorders. Despite demonstrated efficacy, tic reduction and utilization rates of behavioral treatment remain relatively low. Read More

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2020 05 20:1-8. Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA,

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a safe and effective therapy for refractory Tourette syndrome (TS). Recent studies have identified several neural targets as effective in reducing TS symptoms with DBS, but, to our knowledge, none has compared the effectiveness of DBS with conservative therapy.

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify studies investigating adult patient outcomes reported as Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores after DBS surgery, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy. Read More

Brain Sci 2020 May 15;10(5). Epub 2020 May 15.

Tourette's Syndrome and Movement Disorders Center, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, 20100 Milan, Lombardia, Italy.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics and, frequently, psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities. Above all, obsessive compulsive disorder/behavior (OCD/OCB) influences the clinical picture and has a severe impact on quality of life, eventually more than the tics themselves. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective therapy in selected, refractory cases. Read More

Brain Sci 2020 May 15;10(5). Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Cologne, 50397 Cologne, Germany.

Probabilistic tractography in Tourette syndrome (TS) patients have shown an alteration in the connectivity of the primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area with the striatum and thalamus, suggesting an abnormal connectivity of the cortico-striatum-thalamocortical-pathways in TS. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the centromedian nucleus-nucleus ventrooralis internus (CM-Voi complex) in the thalamus is an effective treatment for refractory TS patients. We investigated the connectivity of activated fibers from CM-Voi to the motor cortex and its correlation between these projections and their clinical outcome. Read More

Cortex 2020 Apr 23;129:33-40. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address:

Tourette syndrome (TS) is characterized by the presence of involuntary movements (tics) which are, at least partly, generated within 'voluntary' motor pathways. Here we reassess 16 TS patients (age 19 ± 2.3 years) who participated in a mental chronometry study of volition 5. Read More

F1000Res 2020 14;9:257. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Department of Neurology, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, 75013, France.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory disease in China at the end of 2019. It then spread with enormous rapidity and by mid-March 2020 was declared a world pandemic. Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder with a worldwide prevalence of about 1% of the population. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2020 Jul 13;77:67-74. Epub 2020 May 13.

Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Shoin Women's University, Higashiosaka, Japan.

Background: Severe intractable tics, which are associated with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder (TS/CTD), severely affect the quality of life. Common less-invasive treatments are often unable to attenuate tics with deep brain stimulation currently being the only effective treatment. We aimed to assess the anti-tic effect of deep slow nasal respiration with tight lip closure using patients with TS/CTD. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2020 24;11:433. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Department of Exercise and Health Promotion, College of Education, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Sulpiride is a highly selective dopamine D2 receptor antagonist and is commonly used in psychiatric disorders, Tourette syndrome, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, sulpiride has been recognized as a potential cause of drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) for a long time. In this study, we aimed to focus on analysis of sulpiride-induced parkinsonism (SIP) in PUD and GERD patients based on a nationwide population. Read More

Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2020 May 6:1-15. Epub 2020 May 6.

School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Converging evidence from both clinical and experimental studies has shown that Tourette syndrome (TS) is not a unitary condition, but a cluster of multiple phenotypes, which encompass both tics and specific behavioural and cognitive symptoms (mainly attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder). We conducted a narrative review of the recent literature on the cognitive neuropsychiatry of TS. Although clinical research has shown that TS is not associated with cognitive deficits per se, the findings of recent studies have suggested the presence of subtle alterations in specific cognitive functions. Read More

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020 May 5. Epub 2020 May 5.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between physical activity, sleep and symptom severity in children with tic disorders. Children with tic disorders wore the GeneActiv device, a wrist-worn accelerometer that measures physical activity intensity and sleep/wake parameters continuously for seven days, and completed questionnaires on sleep quality, exercise and severity of tics, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, anxiety and depression. 110 children participated in the study. Read More

J Forensic Leg Med 2020 Apr 10;71:101937. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine. Topkapi Mahallesi, Turgut Ozal Millet Cd, 34093, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address:

Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with the presence of multiple motor and one or more verbal tics. In this case report, we present a 16 years old Tourette syndrome patient who was diagnosed with comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The patient was evaluated for legal responsibility after she made untrue allegations saying that a bus driver had sexually harassed her. Read More

J Parkinsons Dis 2020 Apr 24. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Most medical centers are postponing elective procedures and deferring non-urgent clinic visits to conserve hospital resources and prevent spread of COVID-19. The pandemic crisis presents some unique challenges for patients currently being treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS). Movement disorder (Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia), neuropsychiatric disorder (obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, depression), and epilepsy patients can develop varying degrees of symptom worsening from interruption of therapy due to neurostimulator battery reaching end of life, device malfunction or infection. Read More

CNS Spectr 2020 Apr;25(2):297

Teva Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the hyperkinetic movements of motor and phonic tics manifested in young age. Currently approved treatments in the United States are antipsychotics: haloperidol, pimozide, and aripiprazole, which are associated with serious side effects, including tardive dyskinesia (TD). Deutetrabenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, was approved in 2017 by the US FDA for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease and TD. Read More

Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020 Apr 14;21(5):567-580. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

: Though many unanswered questions about the pathophysiology of Tourette Syndrome remain, several pharmacotherapies for tics have been studied, with varying results in terms of efficacy and the strength of evidence.: This literature review encompasses pharmacotherapies for tics. The pharmacotherapies discussed in this review include: alpha agonists, antipsychotics, topiramate, botulinum toxin, and dopamine depleters. Read More

Pediatr Neonatol 2020 Mar 20. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatric Neurology, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Chronic tic disorder and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome are very common childhood-onset diseases. However, the pathophysiology underlying these disorders is not yet clear and most studies focus on the disinhibition of the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit. Although dysfunction of this circuit is possible, routine clinical neuroimaging studies such as T1-weighted or T2-weighted MRI usually reveal normal results. Read More