Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Neurology 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

From the Section of Neurology (H.A.-N., F.J.J.-J.), Hospital Universitario del Sureste, Arganda del Rey, Madrid; and University Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers (E.G.-M., J.A.G.A), UNEx, ARADyAL Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Cáceres, Spain.

Objective: This review focuses on the possible association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and movement disorders, including Parkinson disease (PD), other parkinsonian syndromes, essential tremor, choreic and dystonic syndromes, Tourette syndrome, and heredodegenerative ataxias.

Methods: Review of PubMed from 1966 to September 2018 and identification of references of interest for the topic. A meta-analysis of eligible studies on the frequency of RLS in patients with PD and controls using Meta-DiSc1. Read More

Depress Anxiety 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit (UPIA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Recent findings suggest an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Thus, we evaluated the clinical associated features of ADHD in a large sample of adult OCD patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study including 955 adult patients with OCD from the Brazilian Research Consortium of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders (C-TOC). Read More

CNS Drugs 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA.

Novel pharmacological treatments are needed for Tourette syndrome. Our goal was to examine the current evidence base and biological rationale for the use of cannabis-derived medications or medications that act on the cannabinoid system in Tourette syndrome. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of PubMed for randomized controlled trials or clinical trials of cannabis-derived medications in Tourette syndrome. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100093, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Epilepsy, Beijing, 100093, China; Epilepsy Institution, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100093, China. Electronic address:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of globus pallidus internus (GPi) -Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in dopamine and dopamine transporter metabolism, and to explore the regulatory role of DBS on dopaminergic neurons in Tourette's syndrome by constructing an autoimmune model.

Methods: Serum with high concentrations of antinuclear antibodies or PBS was injected into rats' striatum by stereotactic technique and micro-pump. Then, electrodes were planted into rats' globus pallidus internus. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 22;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA.

A 45-year-old male patient with Tourette syndrome presented to the emergency department with worsening neck pain and stiffness of 1-week duration. Associated symptoms included headache, hoarse voice, trismus and odynophagia. The patient was haemodynamically stable without fevers or leucocytosis. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2019 Mar 22;9(1):120. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Psychiatry and MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

There have been considerable recent advances in understanding the genetic architecture of Tourette syndrome (TS) as well as its underlying neurocircuitry. However, the mechanisms by which genetic variation that increases risk for TS-and its main symptom dimensions-influence relevant brain regions are poorly understood. Here we undertook a genome-wide investigation of the overlap between TS genetic risk and genetic influences on the volume of specific subcortical brain structures that have been implicated in TS. Read More

Ann Gen Psychiatry 2019 11;18. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

1Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, 840 Shijo-cho Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521 Japan.

Background: Patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience comorbid conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Tourette syndrome (TS). Although pharmacotherapies are effective for treating ADHD, they are likely to elicit a variety of adverse effects. It is, thus, important to select an effective and well-tolerated pharmacotherapeutic treatment for patients with ADHD/ASD comorbid with TS. Read More

J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

4 Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Disease Program, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Background: Inflammation and immune dysregulation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pediatric-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome (TS). Though few replicated studies have identified markers of immune dysfunction in this population, preliminary studies suggest that serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations may be abnormal in these children with these disorders.

Methods: This observational retrospective cohort study, conducted using electronic health records (EHRs), identified 206 children with pediatric-onset OCD and 1024 adults diagnosed with OCD who also had testing for serum levels of IgA. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2019 5;10:29. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.

Tourette syndrome is a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Characteristic features include tics, recurrent movements that are experienced as compulsive and "unwilled"; uncomfortable premonitory sensations that resolve through tic release; and often, the ability to suppress tics temporarily. We demonstrate how these symptoms and features can be understood in terms of aberrant predictive (Bayesian) processing in hierarchical neural systems, explaining specifically: why tics arise, their "unvoluntary" nature, how premonitory sensations emerge, and why tic suppression works-sometimes. Read More

Brain Stimul 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. Electronic address:

Clin Neuropharmacol 2019 Mar/Apr;42(2):37-41

Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review our "real-world" experience with the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors tetrabenazine (TBZ), deutetrabenazine (DTBZ), and valbenazine (VBZ) for treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders. Access and adherence to VMAT2 inhibitors may be limited by insurance and regulatory issues, inexperience with their use by the prescribing physician, lack of efficacy, or side effects.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review, supplemented with a questionnaire, of all our patients treated with a VMAT2 inhibitor between January 1, 2017, and August 30, 2018. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

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

In this published article, members of 'The Tourette Association of America Neuroimaging Consortium' were not cited in PubMed. These consortium members are listed in the associated correction. Read More

Neurol Sci 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.

Objective: Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been suggested for demonstrating brain metabolism in neuropsychiatric disorders. This study assessed serum NSE levels in patients with tic disorders (TD).

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, we investigated whether NSE levels were increased in TD patients. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Feb 25. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Psychiatry, Tzu Chi General Hospital, and School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Introduction: Violent motor tics or severe self-harm behaviors have been reported in patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and leading to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study aimed to determine the risk of TBI in TS patients, the effects associated with concurrent psychiatric disorders (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or depressive disorder), and the effects of medication treatment (antipsychotics, antidepressants, or clonidine) on the risk of TBI.

Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, 2261 TS patients and 20349 non-TS controls matched by gender and age were enrolled between 2000 and 2012, and followed until the end of 2013. Read More

J Paediatr Child Health 2019 Mar;55(3):367-368

Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Front Neurosci 2019 15;13:108. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.

The treatment of psychiatric patients presents significant challenges to the clinical community, and a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management is essential to facilitate optimal care. In particular, the neurosurgical treatment of psychiatric disorders, or "psychosurgery," has held fascination throughout human history as a potential method of influencing behavior and consciousness. Early evidence of such procedures can be traced to prehistory, and interest flourished in the nineteenth and early twentieth century with greater insight into cerebral functional and anatomic localization. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 May 28;63:1-7. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Of all the truncothalamic nuclei, the centromedian-parafascicular nuclei complex (CM-Pf) is the largest and is considered the prototypic thalamic projection system. Located among the caudal intralaminar thalamic nuclei, the CM-Pf been described by Jones as "the forgotten components of the great loop of connections joining the cerebral cortex via the basal ganglia". The CM, located lateral relative to the Pf, is a major source of direct input to the striatum and also has connections to other, distinct region of the basal ganglia as well as the brainstem and cortex. Read More

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Division of Tics, OCD, and Related Disorders; Friedman Brain Institute and Mindich Child Health and Development Institute. Electronic address:

Objective: Parental age at birth has been shown to affect the rates of a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, but the understanding of the mechanisms through which it mediates different outcomes is still lacking. We used a population-based cohort to assess differential effects of parental age on estimates of risk across pediatric-onset neuropsychiatric disorders: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome/chronic tic disorder (TS/CT).

Method: Our study cohort included all singleton births in Denmark between 1980 and 2007 with full information on parental ages (N=1,490,745), followed through December 31, 2013. Read More

Am J Psychiatry 2019 Mar;176(3):217-227

The Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Yu, Illmann, Osiecki, Smoller, Pauls, Neale, Scharf); the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Mass. (Yu, Neale, Scharf); the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (Sul, Huang, Zelaya, Ophoff, Freimer, Coppola); the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles (Sul, Huang, Zelaya, Freimer, Coppola); the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece (Tsetsos); the Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. (Tsetsos, Paschou); deCODE Genetics/Amgen, Reykjavik, Iceland (Nawaz, H. Stefansson, K. Stefansson); the Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles (Huang, Zelaya); the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco (Darrow); the Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (Hirschtritt, Willsey); the Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Greenberg, Roffman, Buckner); the Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Muller-Vahl); the Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany (Stuhrmann); McGill University Health Center, University of Montreal, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal (Dion); the Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal (Rouleau); the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna (Aschauer, Stamenkovic); Biopsychosocial Corporation, Vienna (Aschauer, Schlögelhofer); University Health Network, Youthdale Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto, Toronto (Sandor); the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Hospital for Sick Children, and University of Toronto, Toronto (Barr); Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore (Grados, Singer); the Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany (Nöthen); the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany (Hebebrand, Hinney); the Yale Child Study Center and the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. (King, Fernandez); the Institute of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Barta); Vadaskert Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital, Budapest, Hungary (Tarnok, Nagy); the Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany (Depienne); Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR S 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, ICM, Paris (Depienne, Worbe, Hartmann); French Reference Centre for Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris (Worbe, Hartmann); Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Neurology, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris (Worbe, Hartmann); Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York (Budman); Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy (Rizzo); the Stanley Institute for Cognitive Genomics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York (Lyon); the Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (McMahon); Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. (Batterson); the Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen and Rijksuniversity Groningen, and Drenthe Mental Health Center, Groningen, the Netherlands (Cath); the Department of Neurology, Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville (Malaty, Okun); Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey (Berlin); Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee (Woods); Tripler Army Medical Center and University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu (Lee); Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston (Jankovic); the Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neuropsychiatry, University College London (Robertson); the Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati (Gilbert); Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Brown); the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami (Coffey); the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands (Dietrich, Hoekstra); University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City (Kuperman); the Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle (Zinner); the Department of Pediatrics, Landspitalinn University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland (Luðvigsson, Thorarensen); the Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland (Sæmundsen, Stefansson); the State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, Kópavogur, Iceland (Sæmundsen); the Department of Genetics and the Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (Atzmon, Barzilai); the Department of Human Biology, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel (Atzmon); the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany (Wagner); the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany (Moessner); SUNY Downstate Medical Center Brooklyn, New York (C.M. Pato, M.T. Pato, Knowles); the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown (Roffman, Buckner); the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston (Smoller); the Center for Brain Science and Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. (Buckner); the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco (Willsey); the Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway (Tischfield, Heiman); the Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Posthuma); the Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. (Cox, Davis); the Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Neale); the Department of Psychiatry, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville (Mathews); and the Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Scharf).

Objective:: Tourette's syndrome is polygenic and highly heritable. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches are useful for interrogating the genetic architecture and determinants of Tourette's syndrome and other tic disorders. The authors conducted a GWAS meta-analysis and probed aggregated Tourette's syndrome polygenic risk to test whether Tourette's and related tic disorders have an underlying shared genetic etiology and whether Tourette's polygenic risk scores correlate with worst-ever tic severity and may represent a potential predictor of disease severity. Read More

Mov Disord 2019 Apr 22;34(4):580-582. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Movement Disorders, Neurology Department, Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Brain Dev 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Child Psychiatry, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan; Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Objective: We aimed to clarify the current status of pharmacotherapy for tic disorders and comorbidities in Japan. We used a systematic survey to collate the consensus of Japanese experts and compare it with the recent international evidence.

Methods: We devised a questionnaire on pharmacotherapy for tics and comorbidities and sent it to Japanese experts on tic disorders. Read More

J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2019 Feb 20:e22302. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Objective: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder. Its clinical manifestations are involuntary and recurrent muscle twitch, resulting in motor twitch and occurrence twitch. Traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in treating TS. Read More

Mov Disord 2019 Apr 20;34(4):586-588. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

STIC: Traitement de la maladie de Gilles de la Tourette par stimulation bilatérale à haute fréquence de la partie antérieure du globus pallidus interne.

Front Psychol 2019 6;10:135. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pasian di Prato, Udine, Italy.

In the last years, there has been a growing interest in the application of different non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to induce neuroplasticity and to modulate cognition and behavior in adults. Very recently, different attempts have been made to induce functional plastic changes also in pediatric populations. Importantly, not only sensorimotor processing, but also higher-level functions have been addressed, with the aim to boost rehabilitation in different neurodevelopmental disorders. Read More

Cell Rep 2019 Feb;26(8):2064-2077.e7

Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Center of Systems Biology and Human Health, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:

Kibra is a synaptic scaffold protein regulating learning and memory. Alterations of Kibra-encoding gene WWC1 cause various neuronal disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Tourette syndrome. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Kibra's function in neurons is poorly understood. Read More

Int J Neural Syst 2019 Jan 8:1850060. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

§ Department of Computer and Communication, National Pingtung University, 51 Min Sheng East Road, Pingtung, 90003, Taiwan.

Numerous nonepileptic paroxysmal events, such as syncope and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, may imitate seizures and impede diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to mistreatment, affecting patients' lives considerably. Electroencephalography is commonly used for diagnosing epilepsy. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Tic and Neurodevelopmental Movements Service (TANDeM), Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Tics and stereotypies are the most common pathological repetitive complex motor behaviors occurring during the neurodevelopmental period. Although they may appear transiently during development without acquiring a pathological status, when they become chronic they may be distressing, socially impairing, or even, in the case of malignant tics, potentially physically harmful. Despite a certain similarity in their phenomenology, physicians should be able to distinguish them for their different variability over time, topographical distribution, association with sensory manifestations, and relationship with environmental triggers. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 15;9(2):e024685. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Objective: Behaviour therapy (BT) for Tourette's disorder (TD) and persistent (chronic) motor or vocal tic disorder (PTD) is rarely available. We evaluated the feasibility of adapting two existing BT protocols for TD/PTD (habit reversal training (HRT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP)) into a therapist-guided and parent-guided online self-help format.

Design: A pilot, single-blind, parallel group randomised controlled trial. Read More

J Psychiatr Res 2019 Apr 7;111:145-153. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes children to make repeated, brief involuntary movements or sounds. TS can be co-morbid with other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clusters of biologically related genes have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting shared pathologies. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 02 14;10(1):753. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, 1201, Geneva, Switzerland.

Subcortical neuronal activity is highly relevant for mediating communication in large-scale brain networks. While electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings provide appropriate temporal resolution and coverage to study whole brain dynamics, the feasibility to detect subcortical signals is a matter of debate. Here, we investigate if scalp EEG can detect and correctly localize signals recorded with intracranial electrodes placed in the centromedial thalamus, and in the nucleus accumbens. Read More

Mov Disord Clin Pract 2019 Jan 16;6(1):40-45. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Psychiatry University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA USA.

Background: Tourette's Syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset movement disorder marked by the chronic presence of motor and vocal tics. Research shows that tics associated with TS tend to fade in severity for some (but not all) affected youth, though psychiatric comorbidities that commonly accompany TS may be more persistent. The long-term outcomes of individuals with TS have not been well characterized. Read More

Indian J Psychiatry 2019 Jan-Feb;61(1):13-21

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

Neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders (NPD) has been practiced for >80 years. However, the interests have waxed and waned, from 1000s of surgeries in 1940-1950s to handful of surgery in 60-80s. This changed with the application of deep brain stimulation surgery, a surgery, considered to be "reversible" there has been a resurgence in interest. Read More

J Neurosci 2019 Apr 8;39(15):2965-2975. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213,

Hyperactivity in striatum is associated with compulsive behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related illnesses, but it is unclear whether this hyperactivity is due to intrinsic striatal dysfunction or abnormalities in corticostriatal inputs. Understanding the cellular and circuit properties underlying striatal hyperactivity could help inform the optimization of targeted stimulation treatments for compulsive behavior disorders. To investigate the cellular and synaptic abnormalities that may underlie corticostriatal dysfunction relevant to OCD, we used the knock-out (-KO) mouse model of compulsive behaviors, which also exhibits hyperactivity in central striatum. Read More

Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Laboratory for Mother and Child Health, Department of Public Health - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCSS, Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.

Purpose: Drug use in the pediatric population still often features off-label prescriptions, particularly for psychotropic drugs. We reviewed the registration status, scientific evidence, and recommendations from the guidelines for antipsychotics used for psychiatric disorders in children.

Methods: Antipsychotic drugs marketed in Italy, the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) were identified with the ATC Classification System. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Centre for Individualized Infection Medicine, Hannover, Germany.

Background: The tryptophan-kynurenine-NAD+ pathway is closely associated with regulation of immune cells toward less inflammatory phenotypes and may exert neuroprotective effects. Investigating its regulation in CNS infections would improve our understanding of pathophysiology and end-organ damage, and, furthermore, open doors to its evaluation as a source of diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers.

Methods: We measured concentrations of kynurenine (Kyn) and tryptophan (Trp) in 220 cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with bacterial and viral (herpes simplex, varicella zoster, enteroviruses) meningitis/encephalitis, neuroborreliosis, autoimmune neuroinflammation (anti-NMDA-R encephalitis, multiple sclerosis), and noninflamed controls (Bell's palsy, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Tourette syndrome). Read More

Dev Med Child Neurol 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Neurology Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Epidemiological studies, animal models, and case-control studies indicate maternal immune activation may be an important factor involved in disease expression of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We report eight children (mean age 6y 6mo [range 4-15y]; six males and two females) referred over a 2-year period with at least one of these neurodevelopmental disorders plus a maternal history of thyroid autoimmunity. Seven of eight children presented with an abrupt onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms (OCD [n=6], tics [n=5], and/or psychosis [n=1]), associated with an autistic or global regression. Read More

Br J Pharmacol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Histamine dysregulation was implicated as a rare cause of Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders a decade ago by a landmark genetic study in a high density family pedigree, which implicated a hypomorphic mutation in the histidine decarboxylase (Hdc) gene as a rare but high penetrance genetic cause. Studies in Hdc knockout (KO) mice have confirmed that this mutation causes tic-relevant behavioural and neurochemical abnormalities that parallel what is seen in patients and thus validate the KO as a potentially informative model of tic pathophysiology. Recent studies have focused on the potential role of the histamine H receptor in this model, and by association in tic disorders and related neuropsychiatric conditions. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 30;9(1):972. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

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

While the importance of the serotonergic system in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is well established, its role in Tourette syndrome (TS) is uncertain. Particularly in TS patients with comorbid OCD (TS + OCD), decreased serotonin transporter (SERT) binding has been suggested. Here, we investigated for the first time SERT binding in TS patients with and without OCD (TS - OCD) compared to both healthy controls (HC) and OCD patients as well as the influence of escitalopram using the potent SERT imaging ligand [I]2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine ([I]ADAM) and single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Jan 22;11(2). Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Laboratory of Palliative Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Oczki 3, Warszawa 02-007, Poland.

There is an increased interest in the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of symptoms in cancer and palliative care patients. Their multimodal action, in spite of limited efficacy, may make them an attractive alternative, particularly in patients with multiple concomitant symptoms of mild and moderate intensity. There is evidence to indicate cannabis in the treatment of pain, spasticity, seizures, sleep disorders, nausea and vomiting, and Tourette syndrome. Read More

Biol Psychiatry 2019 Feb;85(4):281-282

Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Although the DSM-5 chronic motor tic disorder (CMTD) and Tourette syndrome (TS) are distinct diagnostic categories, there is no genetic or phenotypic evidence that supports this diagnostic categorization. The aim of this study was to compare patients with both diagnoses along a number of clinical characteristics to provide further diagnostic clarity. Our sample consisted of 1018 patients (including adult and child patients) suffering from chronic tic disorders. Read More

Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Introduction: Drawing on the seminal work of DeLong, Albin, and Young, we have now entered an era of basal ganglia neuromodulation. Understanding, re-evaluating, and leveraging the lessons learned from neuromodulation will be crucial to facilitate an increased and improved application of neuromodulation in human disease.

Methods: We will focus on deep brain stimulation (DBS) - the most common form of basal ganglia neuromodulation - however, similar principles can apply to other neuromodulation modalities. Read More

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2018 9;8:595. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Anatomically, cortical-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (CBGTC) circuits have an essential role in the expression of tics. At the biochemical level, the proper conveyance of messages through these circuits requires several functionally integrated neurotransmitter systems. In this manuscript, evidence supporting proposed pathophysiological abnormalities, both anatomical and chemical is reviewed. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Importance: There are limited data concerning the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders among individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS) or chronic tic disorder (CTD).

Objective: To investigate the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders among individuals with TS or CTD over a period of 40 years.

Design, Settings, And Participants: This longitudinal population-based cohort study included all individuals living in Sweden between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 2013. Read More

Appetite 2019 Apr 8;135:131-136. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, UK. Electronic address:

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by involuntary, repetitive and non-rhythmic motor and vocal tics. Despite suggestion that diet may affect tics, and the substantial research into children's diet, eating behaviours and sensory processing in comorbid disorders (e.g. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Apr 3;62:269-272. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Functional Neurosurgery and DBS, Centro Chirurgico Toscano, Via dei Lecci, 22, 52100 Arezzo, Italy.

Tourette syndrome is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder affecting the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical system. The disease manifests in childhood with tics and various psychiatric comorbidities. Cases of refractory Tourette syndrome are valuable candidates for functional neurosurgery. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Jan 4:1-9. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

1Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

OBJECTIVEA current challenge is finding an effective and safe treatment for severely disabled patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and comorbid psychiatric disorders, in whom conventional treatments have failed. The authors aimed to evaluate the utility of globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation (GPi-DBS) combined with bilateral anterior capsulotomy in treating these clinically challenging patients.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective review of the clinical history and outcomes of 10 severely disabled patients with treatment-refractory TS and a psychiatric comorbidity, who had undergone GPi-DBS combined with bilateral anterior capsulotomy in their hospital. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 3;9(1):e027583. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Queens Medical Centre, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Developmental Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.

Introduction: Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder are common, disabling childhood-onset conditions. Guidelines recommend that behavioural therapy should be offered as first-line treatment for children with tics. However, there are very few trained behaviour therapists for tics and many patients cannot access appropriate care. Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2019 Jan;16(1):105-118

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) represents one of the major clinical breakthroughs in the age of translational neuroscience. In 1987, Benabid and colleagues demonstrated that high-frequency stimulation can mimic the effects of ablative neurosurgery in Parkinson's disease (PD), while offering two key advantages to previous procedures: adjustability and reversibility. Deep brain stimulation is now an established therapeutic approach that robustly alleviates symptoms in patients with movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, who present with inadequate or adverse responses to medication. Read More